How to turn your smartphone into the ultimate spy tool

You don't need to be Bond to get your own spy gadgets. You've already got the ultimate spy tool in your pocket: a smartphone.

Here are the apps and peripherals you need to take with your phone on a covert mission, without Q in your corner.

EarSpy

If you want something more than an audio recorder, try EarSpy. It is an Android app that routes the audio from your phone's mic straight to your headset — so you can hear everything around you while remaining that much more inconspicuous. If you're particularly daring, leave your phone near the mark and use a Bluetooth headset to listen in.

SoundHawk

If you don't want to risk your smartphone, SoundHawk is a smartphone-assisted hearing aid that comes with a wireless microphone you can leave nearby. If someone catches you, just explain that you're hard of hearing.

Hidden Camera

Mobile Hidden Camera for Android is about as stealthy as it gets. The app lets you take pictures from a totally blank screen, or even inside a fullyfunctioning notepad app. And get this: if you type a designated kill word into the notepad app, it'll immediately erase all the photos and videos you've taken.

Slow Motion Video

You'll have to figure out how to hide this one yourself, but some recent phones (including the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus) let you capture ultra high-speed video and slow it down — for buttery smooth playback. Which means that nobody in the world can type a password into a device fast enough that you can't follow their fingers.

FLIR One/Seek Thermal

The one reason a good spy might need a thermal camera attachment for their smartphone: keypads. When you're trying to infiltrate a facility, wait for someone to punch in the code — then look for the residual heat left by their fingers. Assuming they don't wear gloves.

Ryobi Inspection Scope

You're inside the facility. Now what? Don't get caught. Peek around every corner, look under every door, with this $100 (Rs 6,000 approx) Inspection Scope. Just one of a collection of snapon smartphone tools recently introduced by the company.

GammaPix Radiation Detector

Depending on what kind of facility you'll be infiltrating, it might not hurt to check your radiation levels. Believe it or not, you can do that with this app and your smartphone's camera. Even the US military is using it.

iPin Laser Pointer

Time to signal for backup. What do you use? How about a laser pointer so small it can fit into your iPhone's headset jack? It doubles as a distraction tool or a way to send Morse code messages.

Smartphone Spy Lens

Sometimes, you can't point your smartphone directly at your mark. Or maybe you want to see around corners in a hurry. This magnetically-attached rotating periscope lens is a steal for $20 (Rs 1,200 approx) from PhotoJojo.

Your smartphone's web browser

No, really. Don't forget about the internet. Because information is power.