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Devices Which Track Cellphones, Intercept Calls Found All Over DC, MD, VA

nbcwashington.com

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Re: Devices Which Track Cellphones, Intercept Calls Found All Over DC, MD, VA

#61

Post by willstrafach »

UncleEntity wrote: post #43
Exuma wrote: post #36

Does this apply to iPhones? So someone could put this outside my house and listen to all my iPhone calls?

They can't listen to your calls without cracking the keys shared between the phone company and your phone...though I do remember reading a while back that "someone" managed to steal the list from sim card manufacturers on more than one occasion.

> though I do remember reading a while back that "someone" managed to steal the list from sim card manufacturers on more than one occasion.

To avoid getting folks too worried about it being a widespread issue, this occurred for specifically targeted MENA-based cellular carriers, as I recall.

Re: Devices Which Track Cellphones, Intercept Calls Found All Over DC, MD, VA

#62

Post by slashink »

AlexCoventry wrote: post #52
tajen wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or have private-key encoding. That’s the case for HDMI: No-one can manufacture devices that aren’t approved. Of course the funny part is, it’s designed so pirates can only send HDMI output to approved screens (=not recording devices), but for backwards comparibility, they has to allow HDMI-to-SVGA adapter with decoding, so the breach is wide open. But you get the intent: HDMI was supposed to bea fully-encrypted stand…

> HDMI was supposed to bea fully-encrypted standard with only preapproved devices. Interesting. Where can I read more about this intent, and how it was compromised?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-bandwidth_Digital_Conte...

The standard is called HDCP

Re: Devices Which Track Cellphones, Intercept Calls Found All Over DC, MD, VA

#63

Post by throwaway9803 »

This is old news to anyone living here and paying attention. I've been tracking suspicious cell sites for the past three years in my DC metro neighborhood with an old Android phone and some prosumer software.

Some of the sites are mobile, but most of the ones I found were stationarity, and could be easily identified once you know what to look for. I'm pretty sure some of them are seriously degrading cell data/vocie quality.

I stopped once I realized there was nothing you could do once you found them. there are only a couple of options for who is deploying them none of which I want to screw with.

Re: Devices Which Track Cellphones, Intercept Calls Found All Over DC, MD, VA

#64

Post by mdesq »

steve_musk wrote: post #51
taf2 wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or just your typical Russian, Chinese spy operations...

Especially considering the POTUS uses a standard android phone.

I believe he switched to an iPhone. [1] I was at an analytics event this year where they were analyzing his tweets based on the originating platform. 1. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.businessinsider.com/donald-...

Re: Devices Which Track Cellphones, Intercept Calls Found All Over DC, MD, VA

#66

Post by AlexCoventry »

slashink wrote: post #62
AlexCoventry wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> HDMI was supposed to bea fully-encrypted standard with only preapproved devices. Interesting. Where can I read more about this intent, and how it was compromised?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-bandwidth_Digital_Conte... The standard is called HDCP

Thanks. I found that before I asked the question. It doesn't indicate the intent of HDMI, or that HDCP compliance is mandated for HDMI devices.

Re: Devices Which Track Cellphones, Intercept Calls Found All Over DC, MD, VA

#67

Post by AlexCoventry »

torstenvl wrote: post #55
AlexCoventry wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> diplomacy is impossible without affording Ambassadors, their staff, the places where they live and work and so on, broad immunity to normal civil law enforcement. Why is that?

Because not every place is a shining example of liberal democracy like the United States. Diplomacy requires representing your country, which sometimes requires advocating against the preferred policies of your negotiating partners. In some places, if you were subject to their laws, that would get you killed.

Makes sense. It would be hard to find willing diplomats without that protection.

Re: Devices Which Track Cellphones, Intercept Calls Found All Over DC, MD, VA

#68

Post by natch »

I know journalism is severely challenged these days, but I wonder if anyone has done or is doing investigations in other cities outside of that region? It would be a surprise if it was limited to just that (admittedly interesting, and yes we already know why) geographic area.

Re: Devices Which Track Cellphones, Intercept Calls Found All Over DC, MD, VA

#69

Post by natch »

mattsilv wrote: post #11

The irony of this article being posted on a website that asks for location information from mobile users every time you visit.

True, but at least they have to ask in order to get your location. Rather than just getting the information 24/7 without asking you. Slight difference there.

Re: Devices Which Track Cellphones, Intercept Calls Found All Over DC, MD, VA

#70

Post by natch »

robocat wrote: post #47
kelnos wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bah, looks like SnoopSnitch requires root access (and a Qualcomm chipset in the phone) for most/all of the interesting mobile network tests, which is a shame.

Or just buy a cheap second-hand Android phone - has mostly advantages.

Yeah, great. Get a phone that secretly sends your text messages to a collection point in China.

https://www.theverge.com/2016/11/15/13636072/budget-android-...

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