UK cabinet banned from using iPads in 'sensitive' meetings over 'bugging' fears

British cabinet ministers have reportedly been banned from using iPads during top government meetings over fears that Chinese, Russian, Iranian and Pakistani spies may have bugged them.

British security chiefs are concerned that China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan have developed the ability to turn mobiles into microphones and turn them into transmitters even when they are turned off, using a computer virus, without anyone knowing, which would then allow them to eavesdrop on confidential meetings.

According to the Mirror, there were allegations that delegates at the G20 summit in St Petersburg were handed souvenir USB sticks, which contained a Trojan bug, adding that it is feared that the devices would allow Russia's FSB intelligence agency to hack into UK's government computers.

The report further said that ministers in sensitive government departments have been given soundproof lead-lined boxes, which they must place their mobiles in when having sensitive conversations.