N.Korea Blamed For Bugging 20,000 S.Korean Smartphones

South Korean intelligence officials revealed smartphones in the country were infected by malicious apps, after North Korean hackers posted tainted mobile software on the southern nation’s websites.

Officials disclosed the intrusions on Oct. 28.

The National Intelligence Service “claims it has taken steps to delete the apps, update vaccines and block the sources of hacking attacks. It did not reveal who the targets of the attacks were,” the Chosun Ilbo reports.

Affected phones reportedly were vulnerable to eavesdropping and covert videotaping.

"Smartphones are vulnerable to the point that a simple malicious app makes it possible to conduct eavesdropping or clandestine videotaping," said Shin In-kyun, the head of the Korea Defense Network. "There are lots of ways the North can hack into smartphones here.