Well... The "Der Spiegel" article has already been translated, but it doesn't
go into details, concerning Android devices...
(http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/how-the-nsa-spies-on-smartphones-including-the-blackberry-a-921161.html)
The closest thing they talk about, is iOS devices. And, concerning those, I
read:
"One of the US agents' tools is the use of backup files established by
smartphones.", and
"The department merely needs to infiltrate the target's computer, with which
the smartphone is synchronized, in advance."
So, I can't know if they're (also) able to get *inside* the iPhones, and the
likes, themselves (that is, the data drives - and through the mobile network)
- or not.
Do Android devices also "synchronize" with other computers?
(If anyone can make a better analysis, go ahead...)
One most interesting paragraph in the article:
"In three consecutive transparencies, the authors of the presentation draw a
comparison with '1984,' George Orwell's classic novel about a surveillance
state, revealing the agency's current view of smartphones and their users.
'Who knew in 1984 that this would be Big Brother...' the authors ask, in
reference to a photo of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. And commenting on photos
of enthusiastic Apple customers and iPhone users, the NSA writes: '...and the
zombies would be paying customers?'"
(I just /love it/, when I have proofs of what this people think of us...)
