This is how easy spy agencies can hack your smartphone

How easy is it for hackers to break into your smartphone?

You might have a sh*t hot password, encryption or any number of other security devices protecting your mobile. But it turns out it's shockingly simple. So simple that former US Government contractor Edward Snowden, who lifted the lid on mass surveillance by the NSA and GCHQ, says it can be done at the push of a button. Snowden claims that the spy agencies, including the British, can send one text message that will crack into your phone. From there they can take control of your device without you even knowing - they can switch it on and off, tap into the camera and microphone and listen in even if the phone is off. Oh, and this phone hacking text wouldn't be seen by the user, so you'd never even know, Snowden told the BBC's Panorama. "That's a specially crafted message that's texted to your number like any other text message but when it arrives at your phone it's hidden from you,” he claimed. “It doesn't display. You paid for it [the phone] but whoever controls the software owns the phone." The worst thing is there is very little smartphone users can do to stop it. Nokia 3210 anyone?