MADISON COUNTY, AL -
Our cell phones are our life lines these days. They're as much a part of our wardrobes as the clothes we wear. When we forget them, we feel naked. However, a Taking Action Consumer Investigation will make you realize just how vulnerable you and your private information are.
Most of us are on our cell phones all the time -- talking, texting and taking care of business. Think about the private conversations and information you share over your cell phone. And now imagine someone listening in without you knowing it. It might be the ultimate invasion of privacy.
In this fast-paced world, who doesn't have a cell phone? You use it just about everywhere you go -- even when you're at work.
"As long as my boss ain't watching," jokingly says Keith McLaglen.
Cell phones are universal connections to our family and friends around the world. But how private are your conversations?
McLaglen says, "You can actually listen in on somebody without even picking up the phone? That just blows me away. That's crazy."
It's referred to as "consumer espionage" software that allows you to eavesdrop on anyone's call.
"Most people think it's like the movies, you know, you just don't think this kind of thing exists but it's out there and it's readily available," says FBI Special Agent Bryan Oakley.
On the world wide web, you'll find web sites peddling software so you can spy on whomever--whenever--wherever!
One web site claims in big bold text that the person you are targeting will not suspect a thing. Guaranteed!
Another web site implies you can catch people from where they least expect it. And yet another maintains nothing is logged, and you leave absolutely no trace on the target's phone.
FBI Special Agent Bryan Oakley is based in the Huntsville Field Office of the Bureau's Cyber Crimes Task Force.
"These spyware packages allow you to see everything that goes on the cell phone -- your text messages, you can listen to live calls, you can do GPS to see where they're going at any time," said Oakley. "It also allows you to turn on their microphone without them knowing it and hear anything going on in the room."
So WHNT News 19 decided to put this technology to the test. We purchased and installed the software on one of our employee's phones and then had her call a friend.
Within a matter of seconds of her making that call, we received an undetected message that let us know she is on the phone and who she's on the phone with. And she doesn't even know it.
We can hear her say, " So are you gonna watch the game this weekend?"
After we got the message, we dialed in and listened to their conversation.
Ryan Self and Keith McLaglen have been friends for years. They're about to see first hand how vulnerable their cell phone conversations could be.
They agreed to allow us to show them what experts call the latest form of consumer level espionage.
When Keith sees how it works, he immediately says "that's crazy."
Most of us are on our cell phones all the time -- talking, texting and taking care of business. Think about the private conversations and information you share over your cell phone. And now imagine someone listening in without you knowing it. It might be the ultimate invasion of privacy.
In this fast-paced world, who doesn't have a cell phone? You use it just about everywhere you go -- even when you're at work.
"As long as my boss ain't watching," jokingly says Keith McLaglen.
Cell phones are universal connections to our family and friends around the world. But how private are your conversations?
McLaglen says, "You can actually listen in on somebody without even picking up the phone? That just blows me away. That's crazy."
It's referred to as "consumer espionage" software that allows you to eavesdrop on anyone's call.
"Most people think it's like the movies, you know, you just don't think this kind of thing exists but it's out there and it's readily available," says FBI Special Agent Bryan Oakley.
On the world wide web, you'll find web sites peddling software so you can spy on whomever--whenever--wherever!
One web site claims in big bold text that the person you are targeting will not suspect a thing. Guaranteed!
Another web site implies you can catch people from where they least expect it. And yet another maintains nothing is logged, and you leave absolutely no trace on the target's phone.
FBI Special Agent Bryan Oakley is based in the Huntsville Field Office of the Bureau's Cyber Crimes Task Force.
"These spyware packages allow you to see everything that goes on the cell phone -- your text messages, you can listen to live calls, you can do GPS to see where they're going at any time," said Oakley. "It also allows you to turn on their microphone without them knowing it and hear anything going on in the room."
So WHNT News 19 decided to put this technology to the test. We purchased and installed the software on one of our employee's phones and then had her call a friend.
Within a matter of seconds of her making that call, we received an undetected message that let us know she is on the phone and who she's on the phone with. And she doesn't even know it.
We can hear her say, " So are you gonna watch the game this weekend?"
After we got the message, we dialed in and listened to their conversation.
Ryan Self and Keith McLaglen have been friends for years. They're about to see first hand how vulnerable their cell phone conversations could be.
They agreed to allow us to show them what experts call the latest form of consumer level espionage.
When Keith sees how it works, he immediately says "that's crazy."
