Here’s How Tech Used by Law Enforcement to Eavesdrop Could Be Manipulated by Criminals
- Posted on August 22, 2012 at 7:30pm by
Liz Klimas
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Earlier this month, TheBlaze reported about a homemade WASP drone that was demonstrated at a tech conference. The drone included a bit of technology that allowed it to hack into phone calls and texts.
Now, a blog post on Slate by Ryan Gallagher is detailing even more how IMSI catchers, which are already used by many in law enforcement, can in turn be used by criminals.
Gallagher writes:
Czech broadcaster Radio Prague revealed that the use of IMSI catchers is on the rise in the country—but not by the authorities. A senior police chief, Tomas Almer, told the station that police had been detecting unauthorized IMSI catchers (called agátas in Czech) being used across the country, though had not been able to catch any of the perpetrators. Why use an IMSI catcher if you aren’t hunting for bad guys? Former Czech intelligence agency chief Andor Sandor said that businesses could be using them to spy on one another. And, as Radio Prague suggested, it’s possible that criminal gangs could be using them for extortion.
IMSI catchers mimic cell towers to intercept information. (Image: Shutterstock.com)
To elaborate, the broadcast reported more concerns over how the technology being used for nefarious activities is becoming more mainstream in the first place:
Former head of the Czech Military Intelligence Agency and a security analyst Andor Šándor underscored the danger of the widespread sale of Agátas:
“It’s been a known fact for a few years now that some companies do sell these devices. But if their use will not be in any way regulated, and access to these devices will not be in any way controlled, then a regular citizen can do absolutely nothing. The only way people can safeguard themselves is if they reveal only the necessary information during their mobile communication. But, obviously that goes against normal behavior of free persons.”
At this point it is also becoming harder to trace who produces Agátas. Although an IMSI catcher was originally patented by a German company Rohde and Schwarz, it has been hard to maintain exclusivity because of its generic nature. This year, Court of Appeal of England and Wales even invalidated the patent for reasons of obviousness.
These devices are similar to those used by law enforcement in the United States to trick a cellphone into thinking they are a legitimate tower. These types of catchers, like the Stingray, were ruled constitutional even without a warrant by the Supreme Court of the United States last year.
The report by TheBlaze about the DIY WASP drone with this technology though shows that even among the positive uses for this types of catchers “it seems only a matter of time before criminals and terrorists turn to this technology to steal data, jam communications, or conduct reconnaissance for attacks” in the United States as well.
Gallagher reports privacy advocates are raising awareness of the eavesdropping capability, like a group in London creating a “IMSI catcher catcher,” which finds those using an IMSI catcher whether it be police or criminals. For those concerned about criminal snooping now, Gallagher notes there is encrypting software available should you not want to go to the extreme of stopping use of your phone all together.
Check out the full post on Slate for more detail here.
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matamoros
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 5:57pmwell … if you have nothing to hide… you have nothing to worry about … right?
Report Post »MrKnowItAll
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 3:48pmSmart Meters, Smart Chips…. Soon your children will be asking…What is the fourth Amendment? What is the Constitution? What is the Bill of Rights? You‘ll break down crying as you answer that it’s how it used to be here before we had to everything we are told.
Report Post »smokey888x2
Posted on August 22, 2012 at 8:48pmPGS: Great response
Report Post »Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on August 22, 2012 at 8:22pmNext thing you know, Iran will hack into drone software and land one on a runway in Tehran. They’ll take pictures of it and sell it to China. Boy, hope that never happens.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on August 22, 2012 at 8:04pmYes but we’ll be safe right? The government wouldn’t use this technology illegally right? My favorite is when you hear some rube say,If you‘ve done nothing wrong you’ve got nothing to hide. Go ahead and sexually assault me in public or have check points on highways in Tennessee,it’s all for our protection.
The feds are currently building their information warehouse out west,all that info being collected for our own good,yeah right.
Report Post »JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on August 22, 2012 at 7:49pmWhen our Supreme court will not uphold our Constitutional rights WE ARE SCREWED!!!!
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on August 22, 2012 at 7:57pmThere’s a provision in the declaration of independence that instructs the people on how to deal with this tyranny.
Report Post »Winedude
Posted on August 22, 2012 at 8:01pmOut of curiosity, what constitutional rights do you feel have not been upheld?
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on August 22, 2012 at 8:10pmWinedude FOURTH AMENDMENT [U.S. Constitution]
‘The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.’
Every time you fly that right is violated and a sexual assault occurs when the TSA drones do their illegal searches.
Report Post »desertspeaks
Posted on August 22, 2012 at 11:57pmConstitutional? Per the Articles of Confederation the Constitution for the united states of American is null and void because it was never properly ratified as required by AOC XIII.
Further info here; http://beforeitsnews.com/opinion-conservative/2012/08/the-constitution-is-not-law-2449422.html
Report Post »yiddishlion
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 2:46amThe Articles Of The Confederation were rendered null and void by the constitution which superseded it. It was in fact ratified and voted on by 11 of the 13. Do some more study.
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