Saturday, June 26, 2010

Police Warn of Smartphone Scanner Apps

During a city-wide sweep for gang members and drug dealers last week, the Oakland (Calif.) Police Department confiscated several cellular phones loaded with an application that could stream the department’s police radio system. The software app is one of several available for iPhones and other smartphones that stream public safety radio audio obtained from scanner radios via the Internet. OPD has not said if the apps were actually running on the smartphones, or if any suspects were able to avoid arrest from hearing police radio broadcasts. However, in a bulletin notice to officers, the department warned officers that criminals are able to monitor the city’s 800 MHz trunked radio system from smartphones, and to use caution when transmitting confidential information.


Article posted at Dispatch Magazine On-Line - http://www.911dispatch.com
Link to full story: http://www.911dispatch.com/2010/06/police-warn-of-smartphone-scanner-apps/

No comments:

Post a Comment