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Obama's BlackBerry brings personal safety risks(electronic bull's eye)
CNET ^ | 02/12/09 | Chris Soghoian

Posted on 02/13/2009 9:23:57 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster

Obama's BlackBerry brings personal safety risks

by Chris Soghoian

When the mainstream media first announced Barack Obama's "victory" in keeping his BlackBerry, the focus was on the security of the device, and keeping the U.S. president's e-mail communications private from spies and hackers.

The news coverage and analysis by armchair security experts thus far has failed to focus on the real threat: attacks against President Obama's location privacy, and the potential physical security risks that come with someone knowing the president's real-time physical location.

Serial numbers

Before we dive in, let's take a moment to note that each mobile phone has a unique serial number, known as an IMEI, or MEID. This unique number is transmitted in clear text, every time the phone communicates with a nearby cell tower. Thus, while the contents of a phone call or the data session (for e-mail) are usually encrypted, anyone with the right equipment can home in on a particular IMEI and identify the location of the source of that signal.

The most common device used to locate a phone by its IMEI is a "Triggerfish", a piece of equipment that is routinely used by law enforcement and intelligence agencies. This kind of device tricks nearby cell phones into transmitting their serial numbers and other information by impersonating a cell tower.

The devices, which are actually fairly low-tech, were used to hunt down famed hacker Kevin Mitnick back in the 1990s. Most interesting of all, according to Department of Justice documents, Triggerfish can be used to reveal a suspect's location "without the user knowing about it and without involving the cell phone provider."

(Excerpt) Read more at news.cnet.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: blackberry; location; obama; security
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The guy won't let go of his "cool toy." Obama and his infantile supporters deserve one another.
1 posted on 02/13/2009 9:23:57 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster
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To: TigerLikesRooster

Cool... let’s subpoena all his emails.


2 posted on 02/13/2009 9:25:10 AM PST by pnh102 (Save America - Ban Ethanol Now!)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

And the myriad electronic devices his staff and security people have to have doesn’t give his position away?


3 posted on 02/13/2009 9:25:39 AM PST by Reaganesque
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To: TigerLikesRooster

Obama needs it to keep in touch with his drug suppliers and left wing handlers.


4 posted on 02/13/2009 9:25:48 AM PST by kabar
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To: TigerLikesRooster

mich u r a fox gonna put gays in army xxxooo The One


5 posted on 02/13/2009 9:28:30 AM PST by End Times Sentinel (In Memory of my Dear Friend Henry Lee II)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

This tech doesn’t give you a person’s location. It gives you the location of his phone. Big difference.

Even assuming the SS (poor choice of acronym) hasn’t thought of this and taken appropriate steps to modify O’s phone or spoof it to multiple locations.


6 posted on 02/13/2009 9:28:56 AM PST by Sherman Logan (Everyone has a right to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

He just needs it so he can check into Drudge’s latest headlines — has to be prepared for immediate damage control


7 posted on 02/13/2009 9:29:52 AM PST by jersey117
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To: All

He’s not in danger of bodily harm over the course of the next 4 years.


8 posted on 02/13/2009 9:31:54 AM PST by anniegetyourgun
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To: TigerLikesRooster

Okay. Who are we to interfere with his personal choices?


9 posted on 02/13/2009 9:32:45 AM PST by Tax-chick ("Global leadership means never having to say you're sorry." ~IBD)
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To: Tax-chick

WE are not. WE are criticizing them. Further, THEY (the Secret Service) strongly advised dropping it because it is a potentially large securtiy risk. Which can put HIS life and the lives of those around him at a higher risk.


10 posted on 02/13/2009 9:35:52 AM PST by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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To: Tax-chick

You do really need to digest the fact that criticizing someone’s personal choice is NOT ‘interfering’ with a personal choice.


11 posted on 02/13/2009 9:36:53 AM PST by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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To: anniegetyourgun

And you know or believe this because of,..........?


12 posted on 02/13/2009 9:37:23 AM PST by garyhope (.)
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To: Secret Agent Man

Sigh. I was attempting sarcasm of a sort, but obviously failed to achieve it. This is usually a sign of naptime, so I’ll shut down the computer and go find my catz.


13 posted on 02/13/2009 9:37:38 AM PST by Tax-chick ("Global leadership means never having to say you're sorry." ~IBD)
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To: garyhope

I read.


14 posted on 02/13/2009 9:38:50 AM PST by anniegetyourgun
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To: TigerLikesRooster

We will see the “smoking gun” to how our economy collapsed on that BlackBerry. God has a funny sense of humor and I bet we get to see these in just the right time.


15 posted on 02/13/2009 9:38:58 AM PST by truthandlife ("Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." (Ps 20:7))
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To: anniegetyourgun
He’s not in danger of bodily harm over the course of the next 4 years.

Wanna bet?

16 posted on 02/13/2009 9:41:44 AM PST by Centurion2000 (01-20-2009 : The end of the PAX AMERICANA.)
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To: TigerLikesRooster
We've been way too hard on these politicians...I say let Obama keep his homing beacon blackberry...
17 posted on 02/13/2009 9:41:55 AM PST by Iscool (I don't understand all that I know...)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

If this is the truth, then we should make sure that he has a spare or two....you know.....just for “insurance”.


18 posted on 02/13/2009 9:41:56 AM PST by Howie66 (To the RAT Party: How can I question your patriotism? You have none, so what's your point?)
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To: Tax-chick

Sorry, I didn’t catch it. I am usually on the lookout for it, but we’ve had some people around here lately that say this stuff and mean it. You were a little more subtle than I normally have my radar tuned to.

My bad.


19 posted on 02/13/2009 9:42:43 AM PST by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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To: Tax-chick

LOL


20 posted on 02/13/2009 9:43:25 AM PST by Obadiah (Party - my house - on December 22, 2012!)
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