BBC•GETTY Edward Snowden has revealed what software government spies use to hack phones

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The former US security man said the UK Government had invested heavily in technology to hack mobiles. Talking to BBC's Panorama, he revealed Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) in Cheltenham uses a secret programme codenamed Smurfs to monitor citizens. He said: "Dreamy Smurf is the power management tool which means turning your phone on and off without you knowing. "Nosey Smurf is the 'hot mic' tool, so for example if it's in your pocket they can turn the microphone on and listen to everything that's going on around you. "Even if your phone is switched off, because they've got the other tools for turning it on."

Snowden, who worked in America's National Security Agency (NSA), revealed there was also a tool to track phones through geo-location allowing spies to find where you are to pinpoint precision. He said: "They want to own your phone instead of you." Once the phone is under GCHQ control, Snowden said operatives can see "who you call, what you've texted, the things you've browsed, the list of your contacts, the places you've been, the wireless networks that your phone is associated with". He added: "And they can do much more. They can photograph you." He also said there was another software, called Paranoid Smurf, which aims to prevent technicians finding out Government workers have control over the smartphone if you become concerned.

And this was something that was occurring without our knowledge, without our consent Edward Snowden

The Smurf programmes are named after the blue creatures in the Belgian cartoons. Snowden said, as well as those suspected of plotting terror attacks, agencies target people it believes are carrying out serious crimes such as paedophilia. But he said they collect mass data to find out who those targets may be. The whistleblower, who now lives in Moscow as he is under fear of arrest by the US for revealing top secrets, said GCHQ collects bulk data under another system. This allows them to take control of the server and Snowden said the tactic is used aggressively. He said: "Computer Network Exploitation (CNE) is basically digital espionage.

GETTY The former US security man is now living in Russia under fear of arrest by America

GETTY The UK Government says GCHQ's work is carried out under accordance with legal framework

"Trying to control things that you don't own. What the Intelligence Agencies like to do is they'll hack those network service providers and secretly take ownership of the devices that are affecting traffic without the service providers ever knowing about it." Mr Snowden said he knows tactics used by the UK spy agencies as he had privileged access to all files in his role, including British government documents. He added, in effect, GCHQ acted as a subsidiary of America's NSA. He said: "When I was sitting at my desk working with tools of mass surveillance every day, I saw that all of our communications were being intercepted all of the time in the absence of any suspicion of wrongdoing. "And this was something that was occurring without our knowledge, without our consent. "GCHQ is for almost intents and purposes a subsidiary of the NSA, they provide technology, they provide tasking and direction as to what they should go after.

"And in exchange GCHQ provides access to communications that are collected in the United Kingdom." Snowden, who says he is acting in the public's interest releasing the information, added: "They have particular targets, but to find out who those targets are they've got to collect mass data." US government officials have brought charges against Snowden under the Espionage Act. Snowden said the claims, of stealing secret information, were unfair and he fears a life sentence if he ever returns to the US. He said: "The Espionage Act finds anyone guilty who provides any information to the public regardless of whether it's right or wrong. You aren't even allowed to explain to a Jury what your motivations were for revealing this information.

BBC Snowden revealed the information in a BBC Panorama interview broadcast tonight