Network Security News

US-CERT warns of BlackBerry PhoneSnoop spyware application

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

A free BlackBerry smartphone application created by a security researcher installs spyware on the phone for listening to calls, the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team warned Tuesday.

An attacker who tricks a BlackBerry user into installing the PhoneSnoop application, such as in an attachment in an email, could use the app to call the victim's phone and listen in on private conversations, according to US-CERT.

CNET News reported that the app was created by Sheran Gunasekera, a security consultant from Jakarta, Indonesia, who told CNET the app was intended to show the security vulnerability in BlackBerrys.

"My intention was to raise awareness that even though the BlackBerry is one of the more secure platforms, there are still means where its users can be spied upon," Gunasekera said, according to CNET.

US-CERT tells users downloading BlackBerry applications to only access apps from trusted sources and to password protect and lock their BlackBerry devices.ADNFCR-1765-ID-19430714-ADNFCR

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