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UK Gov’t Bans Apple Watches During Meetings Due To Fear Over Russia Hacking

Left: [Shutterstock - Vladimir Wrangel] Right: [JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images]

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Eric Lieberman Managing Editor
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The British government is reportedly placing an official ban on Apple Watches during vital meetings because it fears that the wearable technology can be hacked by Russia.

“The Russians are trying to hack everything,” an unnamed source told The Telegraph.

Smartphones and tablets have already been banned at meetings since 2013.

Prime Minister Theresa May, who took the helm in July, is furthering the administration’s cybersecurity protocol by adding the Apple Watch to the litany of prohibited devices during government meetings. May worries that Russia can takeover the phone and use it to surreptitiously spy on confidential conversations.

Under David Cameron’s leadership, several cabinet ministers equipped themselves with the smart watches.

During this time, then-cabinet office minister Francis Maude had iPads he was using for presentations removed by security.

Government officials worried that China, Iran, Pakistan or Russia could snoop on crucial discussions by harnessing a computer virus that can turn mobile devices into microphones, The Telegraph reported.

British governmental departments were given soundproof lead-lined boxes for officials to place their phones in recently.

The latest changes in security protocol may come as no surprise since Russia is accused of sponsoring hacking operations (potentially even conducting the cyber-breaches itself) on a number of occasions.

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