A Right Royal British Centipede

(((Got ourselves a new little British prurient wiretapping scandal.Doesn't look like too big a deal. Just some Britishroyals. Being illegally spied on, by, uh, Rupert Murdoch,owner of FOX NEWS.)))http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4775315.stmQ&A: Phone-tappingThree men have been arrested following complaints from staff who work for Prince Charles about their phones - thought to be mobiles - allegedly being tapped.The police investigation, which began more than seven months ago, has been broadened to see whether other public figures have also had their mobiles targeted.How easy is it to do this to a mobile phone, and what are the methods employed?How can a mobile phone be tapped?According to security expert Mark Cooper there are three methods by which a mobile telephone can be intercepted.Analogue phone systems could be accessed through scannersThis can be done either at the handset, or during the conversation - which is illegal and very expensive - or through the mobile phone company which connects the device.What has happened in this case?It is reported that voicemail messages on mobiles belonging to three staff members at Clarence House, the official residence of Prince Charles, have been accessed and listened to by third parties.How was this possible?A mobile phone that is switched off can have its voicemail accessed by a third party who calls into it by using a special code.Is it possible to guard against this type of intrusion?It is good practice to delete voicemail once it has been listened to and change any default voicemessage access code to another number. (((Who the heck is ever really gonna do this kind of voicemail housekeeping? I bet Rupert Murdoch doesn't.)))And if you are a person in a high-profile position, Mr Cooper's advice is to not leave messages on other people's mobile phones. (((I wonder how long you'd STAY in a "high-profile position" nowadays without using mobile phones.)))Why are digital telephone systems more difficult to access than the old analogue ones?Analogue phone systems, which have now been switched off in the UK, were essentially radio systems that could be tuned into by someone with a scanner.Digital systems are scrambled and encoded. It is possible to tune into them while a conversation is taking place - but it is a difficult process.The only organisations which carry this out are the nation's security forces. (((I'm sure they'd NEVER collaborate with Rupert Murdoch.)))It is much easier and cheaper to access voicemail messages, a method which is relatively straightforward.Are there laws preventing people from tapping into someone's telephone?It is illegal to gain access to another person's telephone and the three men have been detained under Section 1 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA).BBC legal affairs analyst Jon Silverman said the only exception is if the tapping is being done by the authorities, who will have gained legal clearance. (((Oh yeah. SURE they will. The spooks wouldn't wanna face one of those fearsome RIPA raps. In fact, I see British police arresting James Bond all the time.)))He said: "The RIPA act was a controversial one. The government wanted to put on a statutory footing the activities of bodies like the police, MI5 and security agencies generally."It raises the question of the very buoyant market for confidential information in this country and the biggest buyers are the media."(((Them and, uh, Matthew Mellon.)))What are the penalties for breaking the law in this way?The maximum sentence is two years in prison, or a fine, or possibly both.