Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

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


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 2) by zocalo on Wednesday April 04 2018, @05:24PM

    by zocalo (302) on Wednesday April 04 2018, @05:24PM (#662559)
    Actually I have, albeit in a marine environment so far fewer reflections and different frequencies to contend with, with both military and civilian grade equipment. There's a world of difference between the two in terms of speed and accuracy (and cost, naturally) there, so I'm expecting the same to be true for more modern land based hardware too. Also, IMSI catchers are going to need to be pretty short range devices in order to be effective as they have to over power the legitimate base stations, so you've already got a headstart in pinning down the location and a stronger signal to lock onto when you get close enough. I don't think it's going to be trivial, especially in an major urban environment, but given the right equipment I don't think it's CSI TV show levels of improbability to be able to pin them down either.
    --
    UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2