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 ...
Obama’s immaturity and his lack of leadership, both are impaired by his lack of rest....goes to bed after mid-night, is perpetually late for appointments etc., does drink a bit and smokes, the latter two are consistent with most Americans but they are not in charge of a nation....President Bush was on time for all meetings and got plenty of sleep. Liberals see little wrong with playing in the White House while terrorist nibble away at our defenses....Obama really seems not to care.......just give him the money....
That's not the issue. The real isssue is Obama get's to have private, unrecorded conversations with his creepy friends like Bill Ayers.
ALL phone conversations the president has are supposed to be recorded.
Why is he exempt?
I guess he needs to keep his coke dealer's name out of the Obama library too...
Zer() is such a dweeb. Had to have his toys to be a big shot along with his AF1 flight jacket. But may not be a good idea.
Oh, just saw that all the other knuck-draggers here didn’t get your drift. Too bad.
And THAT is the real point!
In response to the heading, I can only say that we can only hope.
One must be subtle when wishing the logical consequences of their choices to fall upon high government officials.
(And now, back to the catz.)
Presidential communications are logged and filed, so that there is a record of who called who when. In some cases a synopsis is filed too.
Remember in the Vince Foster hubub, it was found that there were three or four mysterious lines installed that went around the White House switchboard? It was fixed right away but was immediately recognized as an accountability problem (I think Hillary took credit for the lines).
So THIS president fussed and held his breath until he was allowed to keep an off-the-record personal communications device with no accountability, oversight, or transparency.
Did you forget to put /s sarcasm?
Well, I thought it was pretty good, and sarcasm that good deserves a good nap.
Sorry, Ezekiel. I got the wrong prophet. Oy, this is getting weird.
That's for sure. Islamo wacko's love him, they know what he really is. The leftwing moonbats all love him too, they love what he is. And then there's those who don't know what he is, but worship the ground he walks on anyways.
I wonder if the inevitable court challenge will succeed?
Not at all. It’s his second term that will be a doozie.
Yep. It’s the strong delusion that was foretold.
You may very well be right about giving his position but I think you are referring to his physical (gps) position.
My take on his umbilical connection to his Blackberry is that his handlers need to have a telepromting leash on him. He does quite well responding to situations where he can read responses from a screen.
In an impromptu environment, he stammers and stutters his way through an answer. It is my judgment that he is the ultimate stealth president and is being controlled by others and the Blackberry is but one way in which that is done.
That's for sure. Islamo wacko's love him, they know what he really is. The leftwing moonbats all love him too, they love what he is. And then there's those who don't know what he is, but worship the ground he walks on anyways.
And hard-working honest taxpayers, who may well be seething with anger, are no physical threat either. The worst they'll do is up their tax deductions and call their elected "representatives" and voice their frustrations into the echo chamber.
He's just indulging in a little electronic self-gratification... Perhaps his other "cool toy" isn't quite so functional?!?
Wow, Soros can text! Who’d a thunk it?
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