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posted by martyb on Wednesday April 04 2018, @01:33PM   Printer-friendly
from the a-WOPR-of-a-story dept.

In a letter to Senator Ron Wyden, the Department of Homeland Security has acknowledged that unknown users are operating IMSI catchers in Washington, D.C.:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is acknowledging for the first time that foreign actors or criminals are using eavesdropping devices to track cellphone activity in Washington, D.C., according to a letter obtained by The Hill.

DHS in a letter to Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) last Monday said they came across unauthorized cell-site simulators in the Washington, D.C., area last year. Such devices, also known as "stingrays," can track a user's location data through their mobile phones and can intercept cellphone calls and messages.

[...] DHS official Christopher Krebs, the top official leading the NPPD, added in a separate letter accompanying his response that such use "of IMSI catchers by malicious actors to track and monitor cellular users is unlawful and threatens the security of communications, resulting in safety, economic and privacy risks."

DHS said they have not determined the users behind such eavesdropping devices, nor the type of devices being used. The agency also did not elaborate on how many devices it unearthed, nor where authorities located them.

Also at Ars Technica and CNN.

Related: Police: Stingray Device Intercepts Mobile Phones
ACLU Reveals Greater Extent of FBI and Law Enforcement "Stingray" Use
US IRS Bought Stingray, Stingray II, and Hailstorm IMSI-Catchers
EFF Launches the Cell-Site Simulator Section of Street Level Surveillance
NYPD Making Heavy Use of Stingrays
New York Lawmakers Want Local Cops to Get Warrant Before Using Stingray
New Jersey State Police Spent $850,000 on Harris Corp. Stingray Devices


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  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Dale on Wednesday April 04 2018, @02:40PM (2 children)

    by Dale (539) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday April 04 2018, @02:40PM (#662497)

    Amusing that DHS suddenly seems to have issues with Stingrays. I thought law enforcement was all about these things just being normal tools that aren't invasive enough to even need to bother with a warrant over. Why be concerned at all now? Of course we know why. It is ok for THEM to use them but not anyone else.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 04 2018, @03:59PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 04 2018, @03:59PM (#662529)

    DHS is just come paining that the CIA & FBI were there first and took the good spots.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 04 2018, @06:26PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 04 2018, @06:26PM (#662575)

    "foreign actors or criminals are using eavesdropping devices to track cellphone activity in Washington, D.C."

    yeah, ok DHS. it's probably a bunch of pigs using the damn things.