Author: Zeljka Zorz HNS Managing Editor
Posted on 26 August 2014.http://www.net-security.org/images/articles/spy.jpgThe surveillance tech industry is booming, and we should be worried about it.
Poorly regulated and exceedingly secretive, the companies that create surveillance solutions for law enforcement and intelligence agencies may say that they are vetting its customers carefully, but the depressing reality is that their tools can easily find their way into the hands of repressive regimes.
Among these tools are those that take advantage of the system that allows cellular networks to exchange records about users in order to provide adequate cellular service wherever they are, and use it to pinpoint the target's location (past and present).
The SS7, as this global network is called, is unfortunately vulnerable.
"The system was built decades ago, when only a few large carriers controlled the bulk of global phone traffic. Now thousands of companies use SS7 to provide services to billions of phones and other mobile devices, security experts say," explains WP's Craig Timberg.
Help Net Security/ full article here/ http://www.net-security.org/secworld.php?id=17296
Login to the community
No account yet? Create an account
Enter your username or e-mail address. We'll send you an e-mail with instructions to reset your password.