There are frequent reports about criminals getting caught out by technology, now it seems they’ve figured out that tech advancements can be used to their advantage, including turning mobile phones into weapons.

An incredibly common problem for police forces is the issue of mobile weapon smuggling, to be precise, razors and other sharp objects being concealed in a mobile phone. Gang members are becoming aware of Police presence on the streets, who are very familiar with the current blade disguises, pens, lighters and back straps. Because of this people are looking for alternative ways to conceal blades, and it seems the space between the battery and back cover on a mobile phone is the newest spot to hide them. Prison guards have also seen a rise in mobile phone smuggling into cells and visitors using them as a carrier for drugs and weapons.

Police reports in America and the UK have also shown a rise in the number of mobile phones being tampered with to create electronic weapons. A recent suspect in England was caught with a “potentially lethal” stun gun, disguised as a Sony Ericsson W700. The weapon looked like your average mobile phone, but could deliver a shock of up to 900,000 volts, 18 times more than the “non-lethal” Tasers used by the Police. This incident isn’t a one off, stun guns are currently sold in the US as a means of self-defence, but once people get hold of them, they can alter the electrical output and disguise them in a number of ways.

A less deadly version of mobile stunning is readily available from a company called Touchbak. Using haptic technology the company claim to take mobile vibrations to the “nth level”. Touchbak sends a signal to the phone’s motors to spin at extremely high speeds, but with a rapid-fire stutter. The phone can literally jump out of your hand. The mo-tac service connects to a website where you can send people virtual punches, nudges and more. Derek Galsworthy CEO of Touchbak Technologies said “you know your buddy Kyle is in an important meeting and you know he keeps his phone in his pocket…you can deliver a digital punch to his thigh. He jumps out of his seat during the meeting and…it’s hilarious”… Really!? Ok so it’s not a deadly weapon, but still the possibility to send a severe vibration with the force of a punch doesn’t sound like my idea of fun, what’s next sending a message to blow up your mates mobile?

Well, not quite, but research suggests terrorists are using technological advancements to help them with their destructive missions. The terrorists who attacked Mumbai in 2008 were able to communicate without being traced via Voip phone calls. This method of communication can’t be tapped into like regular mobile calls, so the men involved were able to receive crucial support whilst staying undetected. As well as Voip service, the terrorists appear to have accessed GPS systems to navigate Mumbai by sea and evade capture. They switched between satellite phones and regular communication via ordinary mobiles and various SIM cards. With smartphone advancements, there are concerns that everyday social network sites and blogs could be used to co-ordinate terror attacks; the sites are constantly accessible from any mobile device. Furthermore, evidence suggests online tools like Skype and Google Earth have already been used to organise such attacks.

Mobile’s aren’t just being used as physical weapons, or as a means to co-ordinate real threats. Text messages and phone calls are being used as virtual weapons, cyber bullying is better know via the web but a number of reports show that mobile phones are being used as a virtual weapon against people of all ages. Phones have become the weapon of choice, for school bullies in particular. With three-quarters of children now owning a mobile, it’s the perfect platform for bullies to taunt their target with little fear of being caught. Sim cards can be bought over the counter without the need for proof of i.d, nor is any record kept about the owner. Calls and messages from these types of Sims are virtually untraceable.

Keeping in the same vein of virtual attacks, happy slapping was a huge craze a couple of years ago.  People would find a victim, attack them and film it; it began with a cheeky slap but soon escalated to violent attacks on vulnerable, innocent people. Fortunately, culprits could be caught, with solid evidence of the attacks broadcast all over the web and between mobiles. Thankfully, it’s a craze that has quietened down in recent months.