VietNamNet Bridge – The software pieces and devices allowing to bug phone calls, read others’ messages or record sounds from a distance have been available in the open air.

If someone types “nghe len dien thoai” (eavesdrop phone calls) on Google, the search engine would provide the addresses of tens of websites that can provide the products.

When reporters contacted the address shown on phanmemtham…, which introduced itself as specializing in “detective services,” they heard that the service provider can provide all the latest-generation prevalent software pieces such as Spyphone, Copyphone, PokerSpyphone, Spy Mobile, Mobile Phone Spy.

“These are the software pieces to be installed on mobile phones. They would record all the conservation, messages or emails of the mobile phones and send back to users. The products can be used for all kinds of mobile phones now available on the market,” he said.

The man tried to persuade the reporters to use the software, saying that the products are too cheap if compared with their uses. “You just need to spend 50-100 dollars and you can use them forever,” he said.

It’s very easy to install the software on mobile phones. “You just need to access the mobile phones from which you want to tap phone calls, then access to the website which provides the software pieces, enter the codes. The software pieces would be downloaded automatically and installed on the mobile phones automatically,” he said.

“It will take you several minutes,” he added.

“The software would allow to record all the conservations, messages, emails, call diaries, and find out the positions of users. All the information would be transferred to the users through the manufacturers’ specific transmission lines,” the main explained.

When asked if the tapping can be discovered, the main affirmed that the software products can hide themselves very well, which cannot be found even by telecom engineers.

Vo Do Thang, Director of Athena HCM City, a network security training center, also said that it is very difficult to discover the bugs.

Hoang Phu Nam, Director of HNammobile, said the software products were initially made to help users find their lost mobile phones. However, the software later has been used for the wrong purposes. In Vietnam, people use the software to watch over children and relatives, discover the business plans of the rivals or steal information to seek profit.

Besides the prevalent software pieces, one could also tap others’ phone calls with “Smart devices.”

A salesman asserted that the devices are very useful and it’s very easy to use them. “You just need to buy a simcard and fit the device, then put it into the area you want. The device would record the sounds and send to you to your mobile phones,” he explained the way the device works.

The salesman said the standby time of the device could be 15-20 days, while it could record a five-hour conservation from a distance of 15 meters. The device is “safe,” because it is tiny, just equal to a half of a watch box, priced at 1.5-6.5 million dong.

Especially, people can use disguised devices to ensure their success. The devices look like mobile phones, USBs or plugs. The devices can be put into offices or houses, which would not be discovered, because they look like other normal things. Some devices even allow hearing through the wall.

NLD