The researcher took only $ 1500 for a device capable of intercepting calls from mobile phones and recording conversations. This vulnerability is almost all users of 2G networks.
Chris Paget (Chris Paget), speaking on Defconf, reiterated the statement of the vulnerability of GSM standard, which is still the most prevalent mobile communication technologies. He demonstrated the attack bore the character of the demonstration. Chris, speaking at a conference DefConf, demonstrated the interception of telephone conversations of several dozen people in the hall during the report. Exactly the same method can be used by criminals not for demonstration purposes, and ways to protect yourself is not so much.
Chris Laget hopes that his research will contribute to more rapid adoption of new standards and secure communications. The need for this, he described a simple phrase - «GSM hacked - just cracked." GSM, or 2G - this mobile technology is the second generation. Phones using 3G and 4G standards are not affected by this vulnerability.
If you use your iPhone or other smartphone, capable of displaying the type of communication during the call on display, and you see an alert about the connection via 3G - you're protected from this type of attack. Just Laget mentioned known company BlackBerry. Phone this company uses special encryption on calls, which makes it impossible to conduct such attacks.
Details demo hacking: To carry out burglary, Chris set up his base station with a fake name online. When you connect your phone to the station, she passed the phone to disconnect command encryption. During the demonstration, the station joined the order of 30 phones. Information about these phones and calls were physically destroyed (broken down USB memory card with logs). In the log was collected on the IMSI, IMEI, dialed numbers, as well as preserve all recordings of telephone conversations.
Source: ®
