Microphones of Android phones can be remotely activated: Former US official

Former US official noted that sophisticated hacking tools can remotely activate the microphone on an Android device to spy on anyone.

Google Android mobile operating system has been the constant target of the hackers and Google's team has worked hard to patch all possible holes. However, there are perhaps several workarounds in Android that are not publicly talked about. Now according to a report of The Wall Street Journal, a former US Government official said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation uses sophisticated tools that can remotely activate the microphone on the Google Android based devices.

As per the report, the FBI uses some internally developed tools to collect information from the cyber space, computers and even mobile phones with the help of some private companies.

There are tools that can remotely activate the microphone on any Android OS running smartphone and the conversations can be recorded. This can be done remotely and the user would have no clue about it. This is just one of the methods that have been revealed. It is quite possible that any legitimate third party app can access the data on the phone and pass it on over the mobile internet without the knowledge of the user. Everything lies deeply under the permissions allowed to particular app.

The spying techniques are employed only on target basis, when the FBI finds something suspicious and aims to seek more information on the same, added the report.