On 15 Jan 2007 07:45:48 -0800, "Susan"
wrote:

PeterD,

I read somewhere that there is a chip that people can put in my cell
phone ( the cell went missing for a few days ) which would allow them
to only listen in to my cell phone conversations on their cell phones
and still let them make normal call from their phones.

If this happend to my cell phone , how can i detect it ?

Please advice.


As in: "It must be true, I read it on the Internet"? g

Susan, I really think you are worried about nothing, or you have
everything to worry about. I'm not sure which it is however. I don't
know your personal circumstances, so it is hard to tell.

As to putting a tapping device into a modern cell phone, though
technically possible there are some serious limitations and problems.
Take a common flip phone: in that phone is an incredible amoutn of
equipment, a digital cell phone, a digital camera (usually), a
computer/display system, battery and a lot of other stuff. There is
little room for additional equipment or parts.

Let's say someone did do it however (after all, nothing is
impossible). They'd have to be within a reasonable distance from your
phone itself to pick up your conversations. They'd have to follow you
around if you are mobile! Not trivial, even law enforcement won't do
this unless it is very high stakes.

Let's say you have a legit reason to worry. (And you are not a big
time drug dealer). Do you have insurance on your phone? If so drop it
as many times as necessary to make it not work. Get a new phone.
Whatever was in the old phone is now gone. No phone insurance? Get a
new phone! I"ve seen outright purchase prices under $100 for basic
models, and many cell phone stores will wheel and deal to get you as a
customer, even to the extent of getting you a used but serviceable
phone. You might be out of pocket in that case maybe a $25 activation
fee, but not much more.

FWIW, those who wonder how this type of thing is really done, in many
phones it is possible to disassemble the battery pack, put in a 'bug'
and a physically smaller battery pack and fit it all back together.
This is one reason why the newer phones which use bare batteries are
less vunerable to this type of abuse.

Regardless if someone does this to you, they are spending big money
and time on this and your phone is probably only one of many bugs that
you have collected around you.