Rogue ‘Cell Towers’ Can Intercept Your Data

[Monroe]

Who's actually running these things ... article has a map of locations of reported cell phone interceptor devices as reported to EDS America.

 

"The origin of these devices that disguise themselves as cell phone towers is not known. "

 

"“Most likely, they are installed and operated by hackers, trying to steal personal identification and passwords.”

 

 

Rogue ‘Cell Towers’ Can Intercept Your Data; At Least One Found In Chicago

 

September 3, 2014

 

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/09/03/rouge-cell-towers-can-intercept-your-data-at-least-one-found-in-chicago/

 

John Dodge

 

CHICAGO (CBS)  — So-called rogue cell phone towers, the type that can intercept your mobile calls and data, are cropping up all over the United States, including here in Chicago, according to a company that specializes in developing highly secure mobile phones.

 

More cell phone users, who fear their information could be at risk, are turning to high-end secure mobile devices. As a result, it is become easier for them to detect the presence of these interceptor devices.

 

The origin of these devices that disguise themselves as cell phone towers is not known.

 

CBS 2 security analyst Ross Rice, a former FBI agent, said it’s likely being used illegally.

 

“I doubt that they are installed by law enforcement as they require a warrant to intercept conversations or data and since the cell providers are ordered by the court to cooperate with the intercept, there really would be no need for this,” Rice said.

 

“Most likely, they are installed and operated by hackers, trying to steal personal identification and passwords.”

 

... much more at the link with pictures.

 

[jaclaz]

“I doubt that they are installed by law enforcement as they require a warrant to intercept conversations or data and since the cell providers are ordered by the court to cooperate with the intercept, there really would be no need for this,” Rice said.

Unless of course a secret court, presided by an anonymous judge, issued a secret order authorizing another (not the FBI) three-or-more-letters government agency to place them.

 

“Most likely, they are installed and operated by hackers, trying to steal personal identification and passwords.”

We must be scared of this new generation of hackers with unlimited funding that can place fake cell towers across the U.S.A.

Snippets from the article:

...

ESD says it is able to verify each customer’s report.

...

ESD says on its Facebook page that there are likely many, many more so-called “phony towers.”

...

ESD can only rely on location information of the reported interceptors based on the user’s report. In the case of the Chicago interceptor, the user simply reported it as near the airport, but didn’t specify whether it was Midway or O’Hare.

...

 

no further comment needed.

 

jaclaz

[Tripredacus]

My county's Sheriff department was revealed (earlier this year) to have one of these devices. It wasn't said where it was, but it was actually found during an inventory/budget audit.

[jaclaz]

Anyway, maybe you don't really-really need to fork from several hundred bucks for buying the mentioned in the article (which is obviously some form of not-so-hidden advertisement/plug) "special" phones, JFYI:

https://secupwn.github.io/Android-IMSI-Catcher-Detector/

(though this will only tell you if you are at risk of being intercepted by an IMSI catcher)

 

 

 

jaclaz