Affected Operating Systems: BlackBerry

Discovery Date: 2009-10-27

Overview: Spyware

Detailed Information: PhoneSnoop is proof-of-concept code designed to illustrate the ability to spy on BlackBerry Users. Once installed, PhoneSnoop will allow an attacker to call the infected device and remotely enable the victim device’s microphone, allowing the attacker to listen to ambient conversation over the phone line. PhoneSnoop makes no attempt to hide itself from the victim, other than the fact that when the trigger call is received on the victim device, the phone will not ring, it will automatically answer the call and automatically revert the user interface back to the device’s Home Screen, so as to not arouse the suspicion of the user. This stealth function is designed to illustrate the functionality, instead of being discrete. An affected device will display the application’s icon in the applications list.

Detection and Removal: Detected and removed with SMobile VirusGuard virus definitions from 2009-10-28