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Snarkoleptic

Snarkoleptic's Journal

April 5, 2018

Feds Say They've Detected Apparent Rogue Spy Devices In D.C.

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/04/04/599428495/feds-say-theyve-detected-apparent-rogue-spy-devices-in-d-c

In response to a query from Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, DHS said that it has "observed anomalous activity in the National capital Region (NCR) that appears to be consistent with International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers."

The agency added that it believes "the malicious use of IMSI catchers is a real and growing risk." Wyden wrote to DHS in November asking for information about the use of IMSI catchers by foreign intelligence agencies.

The devices, which can be as small as a suitcase, work by mimicking actual cell towers. NPR's L. Carol Ritchie explains:

"IMSI catchers trick cellphones into thinking they're connected, as normal, to a network like Verizon or AT&T. But the devices hijack the phone's signal, and in some cases, intercept the contents of calls and texts. The IMSI catchers take advantage of a vulnerability built into the system. Phones using 3G or 4G technology can authenticate cell towers, but phones on older 2G systems cannot tell between real and fake towers."

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