Technology

Here’s How Cellphone Hackers Can Easily Track Your Location

Law enforcement already has the ability to track your cellphone location, but a new study from the University of Minnesota shows that cellphone hackers could obtain that information too — rather easily.

“Cell phone towers have to track cell phone subscribers to provide service efficiently,” Denis Foo Kune, a Ph.D computer science student, explained in a statement. “For example, an incoming voice call requires the network to locate that device so it can allocate the appropriate resources to handle the call. Your cell phone network has to at least loosely track your phone within large regions in order to make it easy to find it.”

This technology used by the cell company to provide you with adequate service could be intercepted using an inexpensive mobile phone and open source software. The researchers were able to track a test subject who was moving at a walking pace within a 10-block area by “forcing” messages to the phone but hanging up before it actually rang. This can be done without the subject’s knowledge.

Researchers Reveal Easy Hack to Track Cellphone Location

Cellphone tracking. (Image: University of Minnesota)

The researchers see dangerous potential for this technique in oppressive regimes or in identifying the location of a prominent figure to cause physical harm. They also write that it could be used in situations like home left; it allows the hackers to deduce whether the owner is home or away.

The group has contacted AT&T and Nokia with low-cost techniques that could be implemented without change to hardware, according to the statement.

Comments (46)

  • kyheadhunter
    Posted on February 18, 2012 at 12:07pm

    My friends this is the 21st century. It can only get worst. Price we pay.

    Report Post »  
  • TADTAD
    Posted on February 18, 2012 at 11:01am

    Nuts.

    Report Post » TADTAD  
  • janedough1
    Posted on February 17, 2012 at 10:25pm

    Good luck with that, fellas. I don’t have a cell phone. I can’t afford one, I don’t want one, I won’t have one. Call me a Luddite, but this is one thing I don’t have to worry about.

    Report Post »  
  • tweetypie
    Posted on February 17, 2012 at 6:49pm

    Just try and take battery out of an IPhone….you can’t.

    Report Post »  
  • Workforit
    Posted on February 17, 2012 at 5:18pm

    I learned a long time ago that my cell phone has on “Off” button. In the last twenty years I have not missed a call that couldn’t wait the two or three hours it took me too return or react to the truly important ones. Today you just have to shut off the phone and remove the battery.

    Problem solved.

    Report Post »  
    • rwandrw
      Posted on February 17, 2012 at 8:22pm

      Is that simple answers always seem to work best!!

      Report Post » rwandrw  
    • teamarcheson
      Posted on February 17, 2012 at 8:25pm

      The OFF button does not turn off the CDMA phone. The phone is always on as long as the battery is inside and charged. The phone wakes up a few times every minute to set its power level. The only way to prevent this is to pull out the battery but you see the government does not want you to be able to do that so they order the manufacturer to make battery removal very difficult. Wrapping the phone in aluminum foil will not work because the phone will increase power to get around the folds of the foil.

      Report Post »  
    • GovtIs4JusticeplusDefense
      Posted on February 17, 2012 at 9:15pm

      C’mon, do people really still think turning off your phone can stop them from tracking you! You need a special sleeve made of a material to block ALL incoming or outgoing signals. Or you need to take the battery out, as mentioned above. The cell phone companies can turn on or turn off your phone at will, so anyone with halfway decent knowledge of phone hacking also can do that. Same way your wireless network can be used to access your computer and have a key logger installed…unless it’s encrypted. The price we pay for convenience.

      Report Post » GovtIs4JusticeplusDefense  
  • smugg
    Posted on February 17, 2012 at 4:38pm

    and that’s why we get a ccw.

    Report Post »  
  • korbin
    Posted on February 17, 2012 at 2:48pm

    I bought a cell phone to make phone calls not to be secretly tracked, regardless of who is doing it. It was my choice, have fun with your un trackable landline.

    Report Post »  
    • Ruler4You
      Posted on February 17, 2012 at 3:00pm

      For this to work on my phone there are two more steps before the stealth gear kit, reinstall battery , turn ON phone. I check messages at the end of the day. My phone is worse than my pager ever was.

      Report Post » Ruler4You  
    • SLOWBIDEN
      Posted on February 17, 2012 at 5:08pm

      if you are on a LAN line you dony need to be tracked the LAN line doesnt move….d u m b a s s

      Report Post »  
    • teamarcheson
      Posted on February 17, 2012 at 8:34pm

      The cell phone has tow channels, an up channel for the speaker and a down channel for the ear phone. Law enforcement has the ability to send codes to turn on the up channel on and listen to what is being said while the phone appears to be off. Private investigators and Democrats-Commies know how to do this too. Remember years ago when Newt Gingerich’s private conversation with Tom DeLay was recorded and given to Time so it could be played on all the TV and radio stations. How did you think they did this?

      Report Post »  
  • VISITORNUMBER3
    Posted on February 17, 2012 at 1:54pm

    And where do we find this open source software of which you speak ? :o)

    Report Post » VISITORNUMBER3  
  • MittensKittens
    Posted on February 17, 2012 at 12:58pm

    Well that’s easy, it’s called facebook and foursquare. DUH!

    Report Post » MittensKittens  
  • rwandrw
    Posted on February 17, 2012 at 12:33pm

    SICK OF THIS!! NEWS FLASH… If you don’t want someone tracking your phone TURN IT OFF OR GET A LANDLINE!! No one put a gun to your head and made you buy a cell phone!! AND, unless you are a drug king pin or have piles of cold cash (In Glenn’s case gold) at home with no one watching it while you are gone, NO ONE CARES WHERE YOU ARE (Except the marketers who want to send you a phone coupon for the Tex-Mex place in the mall who has a lunch deal) GET OVER IT YOUR JUST NOT THAT IMPORTANT ;-)

    Report Post » rwandrw  
    • skitrees
      Posted on February 17, 2012 at 2:47pm

      No one cares where you are until the government says you are a terrorist for posting on theblaze.com (“a libertarian news site”) and decides they best track your actions to find out what you’re doing, where you’re going, etc.

      Or…a neighbor who would find it handy to know when you’re not home…

      Or…a stalker wants to map out your routine.

      Or…do I really need to go on?

      Your logic is odd in that if you applied it to guns, you could equally come to the conclusion, “Well if you own a gun, of COURSE you should lose your freedom and be thrown in jail, no one MADE you buy a gun!” That sorta misses the point of freedom – the same is true of cell phones. As consumers, we ARE allowed to demand more from the folks who create/sell the products.

      Too many people believe, they “aren’t that important.” (meaning not important enough to target)

      Hackers refer to these people as “targets” and media refers to these people as “victims.”

      The time for pretending you have to be important to be a target is over, and HAS been over for quite some time. Please don’t lull people into a false sense of security.

      Report Post »  
    • rwandrw
      Posted on February 17, 2012 at 8:21pm

      Or…a neighbor who would find it handy to know when you’re not home…

      …Ah he could just look over and see if my car is in the drive way?.

      Or…a stalker wants to map out your routine.

      ..OH PLEASE I have a bunch of PTSD that need an escape route, as stalker would be PERFECT!

      Or…do I really need to go on?

      …Yes you do. The limited resources of the Gov can’t be spent on some blow hard who posts on the the Blaze! Come man! the AFT is WAY TOO BUSY running guns into MEXICO to worry about you! Sorry get over it, you are JUST NOT THAT IMPORTANT.

      Report Post » rwandrw  
    • teamarcheson
      Posted on February 17, 2012 at 8:38pm

      Voice over IP, using the internet to make phone calls is virtually impossible to intercept because of the way packet switching works. The data path is continuously changing so the eavesdropper looses the call.

      Report Post »  
  • the old man
    Posted on February 17, 2012 at 10:47am

    Just wait until the Gov gets the 30,000 drones in the air. All this tracking software crap will be obselete then. DHS will be able to watch anyone, anywhere on the planet, 24/7. I don’t care, I am still going to piss of the deck once in a while.

    Report Post »  
    • Meyvn
      Posted on February 17, 2012 at 11:32am

      Me too. Probably almost daily.

      Report Post » Meyvn  
    • justangry
      Posted on February 17, 2012 at 7:45pm

      I’m going to piss off the deck more than I used to. LMAO!!

      Report Post » justangry  
  • poverty.sucks
    Posted on February 17, 2012 at 10:46am

    The Blaze articles carries the same enjoyment of negatism as displayed by the grocery store tabloids. Everything’s bad, how stressful must it be working for Glenn Beck digging up dirt on issues when there is more joy than that in life.

    Let the Cell Phone Hacker find my location and get a load full of Gospel of Christ Jesus. Come

    Report Post » poverty.sucks  
    • piper60
      Posted on February 17, 2012 at 11:52am

      Probably won’t understand it.

      Report Post » piper60  
    • TomFerrari
      Posted on February 17, 2012 at 12:01pm

      So, it would be better if we kept our heads buried in the sand?
      If we CONTINUED to ignore the attacks on FREEDOM and LIBERTY?
      Sounds awfully naive if you ask me.
      The skies are not made of marshmallows and rainbows.
      The streets are not filled with unicorns and lollipops.
      We are inundated with these attacks.

      I, for one, say a hearty, THANK YOU ! to TheBlaze.com and its staff and sponsors for stepping up and informing us, when other media outlets REFUSE to simply TELL THE TRUTH !

      Report Post » TomFerrari  
  • Baddoggy
    Posted on February 17, 2012 at 10:27am

    P@ss on the 4th ammendment!

    Report Post » Baddoggy  
  • Mein_Land
    Posted on February 17, 2012 at 10:24am

    Wonderful!! Now I can track where my kids are. Now if anyone wants to track me to do harm to me. Then I will introduce them to my friends – Smith & Wesson. Besides I own a phone and a computer with internet connect for years. The Gov‘t and business I’m sure have been tracking me for years. (Facebook, Google, all the differnt cookies on the internet, phone bill with phone #‘s I’ve called/recieved, ect) Nothing has happen yet. I’ll just remain vigilant.

    Report Post » Mein_Land  
  • altannt
    Posted on February 17, 2012 at 10:11am

    Hey here‘s a thought Don’t own a cell phone! Why so many people need a cell phone is beyond me most don’t even work for a living who gets that many calls? The best ones to track would be the welfare phones to see where tax dollars are going. I must be the only one that has never owned a cell phone

    Report Post »  
    • dfmcse
      Posted on February 17, 2012 at 10:24am

      Yeah, and don’t own a computer either. Do you have one of those? If you do they know where you are too. What are you going to do now?

      You may not need a cell phone, good for you. Many people need cell phones for their jobs and to stay in contact with family members. I travel a lot and I need a cell to stay in contact with family and for my job.

      Report Post »  
  • www.Cryptoportico.com
    Posted on February 17, 2012 at 10:09am

    There is an easy way to stop tracking… Cut 100% of the signals to and from your device!!

    http://www.iphonejammer.com has the solution

    Report Post » www.Cryptoportico.com  
  • ares338
    Posted on February 17, 2012 at 9:41am

    Hey, the government can stop all of the sneaky nonsense of trying different things to track we Americans. I suggest the government make it mandatory for all citizens to have computer tracking chips embedded under the skin to make the job easy for them. This of course will not include any illegal aliens because that would be hurtful and racist wouldn’t it?

    Report Post » ares338  
    • msconstrue
      Posted on February 17, 2012 at 10:03am

      dont forget the barcode tatoos, they have to be able to get the rest of our details!!!

      Report Post »  
    • oldoldtimer
      Posted on February 17, 2012 at 10:10am

      I canceled my cell phone when my son tracked me to the mall using his Ipad. If it can be back traced every time I make a call I don’t want it. Yes there is an APP for that. It is so you can track a cheating husband/wife, lying child.

      Report Post »  
    • Fried Okra
      Posted on February 17, 2012 at 1:08pm

      @old timer Using the iCloud app “Find iPhone”… I can track where my son is at all times. I like it. My son has my iTunes login and pw (i gave it to him) and he can track me as well. Your son probably has your login/pw.

      Report Post » Fried Okra  
  • SREGN
    Posted on February 17, 2012 at 9:34am

    Don’t worry, when the Obama-enabled Iranians detonate the EMP none of them are going to work anyway.

    Report Post »  
  • msconstrue
    Posted on February 17, 2012 at 9:24am

    and we are supposed to be suprised by this?

    Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on February 17, 2012 at 9:02am

    You reading this Spankdamonkey? Take the battery out of your phone when you’re at The Trophy Club!

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • objectivetruth
    Posted on February 17, 2012 at 8:59am

    Just great another technique for criminals.Another reason to keep your cell phone off.If not remove the battery.Put the battery back in and cut it on only for those situations you might truly need it in.
    Just think they want you to bank through your cell phone.Not on your life buddy.Not with all the flaws inherent in their systems.

    Report Post »  
  • JP4JOY
    Posted on February 17, 2012 at 8:54am

    I’ve always called mine an electronic leash. If it transmits it can be found.

    Report Post » JP4JOY  

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