Vault: The Terrifying Truth About What Hackers Can Do To Your Phone

Summary

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The Bert Show — Vault: The Terrifying Truth About What Hackers Can Do To Your Phone

Episode Date: April 13, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode explores the alarming ways hackers and stalkers can compromise your phone, exposing your privacy in ways most people have never imagined. The Bert Show team, joined by callers and IT experts, dives into real stories and news segments demonstrating the ease with which malicious actors can hack into phones — listening in, tracking locations, stealing data, and even hijacking devices while they’re turned off. The tone oscillates between disbelief, shock, and practical paranoia as the hosts process just how vulnerable our everyday devices make us.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction to the Issue

• Originates from a listener, Nikki, who was stalked online and sought tech-savvy help to retaliate (01:02).
• Conversation turns to all the methods hackers have for tracking people and breaking into their digital lives.

The Power and Vulnerability of Modern Smartphones

• IT expert surprises the cast:

  “If I had access to either the email account or just got your attention on that phone for one minute, we can enable the phone to transmit anything you're saying, whether the phone is turned on and talking or just sitting on the desk ... We can track your GPS location, we can actually make it make calls for us and use your phone bills to pay for really anything that we want.” (01:27, IT Expert)

• The implication: Almost anyone with some technical know-how can exploit Bluetooth, internet, or weak digital safeguards to completely compromise a device.

Real-Life “Hacked” Scenarios

• Listener references viral stories about hackers controlling phones remotely — turning them on/off, hijacking webcams, and recording conversations (02:22, Caller/Listener).
• Chilling moment:

  “...the hacker guy that she recruited ... was able to turn on dude's webcam, take a picture of him and take a picture.” (02:30, Caller/Listener)

• Cast responds with disbelief:

  "Whoa." (02:57, Host 1)
  "That's so creepy." (02:58, IT Expert)

Investigation Report—The NBC “Kuykendall” Case

• News segment details how one family, the Kuykendalls, endured months of threats and stalking after hackers took over their cell phones:
  • “After four months of harassing phone calls, Heather and Courtney Kuykendall were afraid to answer their cell phones ... The graphic violent threats came at all hours, forcing the family to change their cell phone numbers. But even that didn't work.” (03:10–03:29, Narrator/Reporter)
• Hackers taunt victims with calls, voicemails using their own recordings, and threats announcing physical surveillance.
• Notable quote from stalker:

  “You are so dead ... I will kill you. They said they were going to rape her.” (03:17, 03:29, IT Expert voice)

Spy Technology is Readily Available

• Reporter demonstrates installing spyware on a producer’s phone with consent:
  • As the producer (Cindy) makes calls at home, the reporter listens in remotely.

  “I'm outside on my cell phone listening to the whole conversation.” (05:22, Narrator/Reporter)

  • Receives texts every time the phone is in use; can see all text messages, call logs, and tracks the exact location (05:36–05:38, Narrator/Reporter).
  • Even when the phone is just lying idle, the reporter activates the mic from miles away:

    “I can hear their conversation even though I'm four miles away ... I'm eavesdropping on them from the city's north side and I can hear every word.” (06:36–06:43, Narrator/Reporter)

What Experts Say

• Former intelligence officer warns:

  “I think a lot of people think their cell phone calls are very secure. Our privacy isn't always what we think it is.” (04:47, Rick Mislen)

• Private investigator confirms:

  “The technology is there. It's been there for a long time. It's accessible, it's done all the time.” (07:01, Private Investigator)

  • Most clients are either trying to bug someone or worried about being bugged (07:17).

Takeaways and Advice

• True privacy is difficult, almost impossible to guarantee.
• Only real “offline” safety: Turn your phone off and remove the battery (07:27, 08:06).
  • Host reacts:

    “Take out the battery? You got to be that paranoid about it.” (08:06, Host 2)

  • Listeners joke about the paradox of charging phones at night, realizing hackers could listen to everything in their bedrooms (08:19–08:23).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Total Monitoring:

  “We can enable the phone to transmit anything you're saying, whether the phone is turned on ... or just sitting on the desk ... we can track your GPS location ... make it make calls for us ... and use your phone bills ...”
  — IT Expert (01:27)

• On the Inescapability of Hacking:

  “Your privacy isn't your privacy. It is exposed. It is exploited.”
  — Security expert in news segment (07:27)

• On Paranoia and Practicality:

  “Take out the battery? You got to be that paranoid about it.”
  — Host 2 (08:06)

• Host Humor amidst Anxiety:

  “Boom. So if somebody could call up and listen to everything going on in your bedroom. Hello. Oh, boy. Good morning.”
  — Caller/Listener (08:23)
  “Squeaky, squeaky, squeaky, squeaky.”
  — Host 1 (08:30), joking about what hackers might hear at night

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Important Timestamps

• 01:02 — Introduction to Nikki’s stalking story and segue to hacking discussion
• 01:27 — IT expert outlines terrifying phone hacking capabilities
• 02:22–02:30 — Listener and hosts react to the idea of hackers turning devices on remotely
• 03:10–04:01 — NBC’s “Kuykendall” hacking victim news segment
• 05:10–06:11 — Demonstration of remote spyware on a phone, listening in and tracking live
• 07:01–07:27 — PI and news experts confirm prevalence; advice for protection
• 08:06–08:30 — Hosts debate paranoia vs. safety, riff on the new, awkward reality

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Summary

This episode delivers a gripping, sometimes unnerving look at the reality of cell phone vulnerability. Through firsthand stories, expert testimony, and chilling real-world news, The Bert Show vividly exposes how easily outsiders can hijack the devices most people consider essential and personal. The message: if you're connected, you're exposed, and modern privacy takes a lot more vigilance than anyone expects.

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Transcript

[Host 1]

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[Host 2]

we got into this conversation with a bird show listener, Nikki, who was sort of being stalked on the Internet a little bit and she decided to do something about it and she found a friend or a friend of a friend that really knows his way around the Internet and around computers really well. They ended up jacking with this guy big time. We started talking about all the details that you can do to track people on the Internet and track their homes and find out information. When we got this call from an

[IT Expert]

IT dude, how many of you have Bluetooth device phones or just Bluetooth device periods? If I had access to either the email account or just got your attention on that phone for one minute, we can enable the phone to transmit anything you're saying, whether the phone is turned on and talking or just sitting on the desk can hear everything that you're saying. We can track your GPS location, we can actually make it make calls for us and use your phone bills to pay for really anything that we want.

[Host 2]

Okay, now that's he's saying we can do any of that to any of you guys. There's this TV segment will basically outline that all of this was happening to One person. One person. I mean, they were turning the phone on and off, listening to conversations, completely jacking with one family. And it's stuff. Jeff is more Internet savvy and computer savvy than I am. So he's not as shocked by this stuff as I am. I couldn't believe it, listening to this yesterday.

[Caller/Listener]

Well, is this the story where they say that even when they take the battery out or shut it off or something, the dude would turn it back on?

[Host 2]

This is the same one. Yeah.

[Caller/Listener]

That's the stuff that freaks me out because I get it. Like, you know, Bluetooth, if you have a. If you're connected anyway somehow. And when your computer is connected to the Internet, you just have to resign yourself to the fact that someone somewhere can get into that and look at it. But if your computer or phone, in this case or anything is off, like the girl yesterday, she told us that the hacker guy that she recruited to help with her Internet stalker was able to turn on dude's webcam, take a picture of him and take a picture.

[Host 1]

Whoa.

[IT Expert]

That's so creepy.

[Host 2]

How about this? Some of the audio in this, at least listening on my computer yesterday was a little bit muffled and tough to hear, but hopefully we've worked it out. This will freak you out.

[Narrator/Reporter]

After four months of harassing phone calls, Heather and Courtney Kuykendall were afraid to answer their cell phones.

[IT Expert]

You are so dead.

[Narrator/Reporter]

The graphic violent threats came at all hours, forcing the family to change their cell phone numbers. But even that didn't work.

[IT Expert]

I will kill you. They said they were going to rape her.

[Narrator/Reporter]

The Kuykendalls were featured on NBC's Today show after anonymous stalkers literally took control of the family cell phones and began following their every move.

[IT Expert]

Text a landline message. We are going to start coming every night. You just might not know when we're looking at you. They're listening to us and recording us. We know that because they will record us and play it back as a voicemail.

[Narrator/Reporter]

So how is this possible? Just take a look at the Internet. That's where you'll find the latest spy technology for cell phones. Marketers claim you can tap into someone's calls, read their text messages, and track their movements anywh anytime. They say you can catch a cheating spouse, protect your children, and hear what your boss is saying about you. And they'll never know because it's supposed to be completely invisible with absolutely no trace. This stuff's pretty creepy. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Rick Mislen is a former military intelligence officer who now runs the Cyber forensics lab at Purdue University. He's examined thousands of cell phones and says spy software develop can now make even the most high tech phone vulnerable. I think a lot of people think their cell phone calls are very secure. Our privacy isn't always what we think it is. And you don't have to take his word for it. Just ask Cindy Abair. Cindy is a producer at Channel 13. And with her permission, I've installed spy software onto her cell phone.

[IT Expert]

Hi, it's me. What are you doing?

[Narrator/Reporter]

While Cindy's at home making phone calls to her family.

[IT Expert]

Have you guys thought anymore about coming through here to Indianapolis, to Florida? Yeah. It'll be a long time.

[Narrator/Reporter]

I'm outside on my cell phone listening to the whole conversation.

[IT Expert]

Whenever you make improve, we'll be here.

[Narrator/Reporter]

And there's more. Every time Cindy makes or receives a call.

[IT Expert]

Oh, and this news. This is Cindy.

[Narrator/Reporter]

My cell phone lets me know it's a text message telling me she's on the phone so I can call in and listen on my computer. I also get a copy of her text messages. I can see the phone numbers of all her incoming and outgoing calls. And no matter where Cindy is with her cell phone, I get constant satellite updates on her location. I can literally track Cindy anywhere she goes. And I'm just getting started. Take a look at this.

[IT Expert]

Especially if she's already, you know, thin and little.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Cindy doesn't even have to be using her cell phone for me to hear what she. Even if her cell phone is just sitting on a table or attached to her purse, I can activate the speaker on that phone and secretly listen in.

[IT Expert]

So what are the rules for listening in?

[Narrator/Reporter]

That means while Cindy is meeting with our station attorney up on the 36th floor of that downtown building.

[IT Expert]

And does their intent matter?

[Narrator/Reporter]

I can hear their conversation even though I'm four miles away.

[IT Expert]

What? What?

[Narrator/Reporter]

I'm eavesdropping on them from the city's north side and I can hear every word.

[Private Investigator]

As long as you can do all those kind of things, you can use that as evidence.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Doing this without someone's permission is illegal. But it's still happening.

[Private Investigator]

The technology is there. It's been there for a long time. It's accessible, it's done all the time.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Tim Wilcox is a private investigator in Indianapolis. He says people really are using cell phone spy programs. And every day he gets letters and emails from those needing help.

[Private Investigator]

There's only two people. One wants to bug somebody and the other has been bugged and is worried about how it's being done and how to find out and how to stop it.

[Narrator/Reporter]

The harassment did stop for the Kuykendalls, but only after they brought in police and the FBI. While authorities never figured out who hijacked the family cell phones, security experts say the case serves as a powerful lesson for the rest of us. Your privacy isn't your privacy. It is exposed. It is exploited. So how can you protect yourself? Well, for starters, don't just leave your cell phone lying around where anyone can get to it. Install a password on here to prevent others from accessing your phone. And when you're not using it, go ahead and turn it off and actually take out the battery.

[Host 2]

Take out the battery? You got to be that paranoid about it.

[Caller/Listener]

But think about it. You can't.

[IT Expert]

Wow.

[Caller/Listener]

Now, think about some stuff from this news story. Like, take out the battery. How do you charge your phone? You gotta leave the battery in there, Right?

[IT Expert]

Right.

[Caller/Listener]

Where's everybody keep their phone at night?

[IT Expert]

On their nightstand.

[Caller/Listener]

Boom. So if somebody could call up and listen to everything going on in your bedroom. Hello. Oh, boy. Good morning.

[Host 1]

Squeaky, squeaky, squeaky, squeaky.

[Host 2]

As I said, this is not nearly as freaky to Jeff because he's pretty computer savvy, but I heard this yesterday. Couldn't believe it.

[Host 1]

Shocking.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Caller/Listener]

The bird show.