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Rogue cellphone-tracking devices detected in Washington, feds say
CBS "News" ^ | April 3, 2018

Posted on 04/03/2018 12:49:55 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

For the first time, the U.S. government has publicly acknowledged the existence in Washington of what appear to be rogue devices that foreign spies and criminals could be using to track individual cellphones and intercept calls and messages. The use of what are known as cellphone-site simulators by foreign powers has long been a concern, but American intelligence and law enforcement agencies -- which use such eavesdropping equipment themselves -- have been silent on the issue until now.

In a March 26 letter to Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) acknowledged that last year it identified suspected unauthorized cell-site simulators in the nation's capital. The agency said it had not determined the type of devices in use or who might have been operating them. Nor did it say how many it detected or where.

The devices work by tricking mobile devices into locking onto them instead of legitimate cell towers, revealing the exact location of a particular cellphone. More sophisticated versions can eavesdrop on calls by forcing phones to step down to older, unencrypted 2G wireless technology. Some attempt to plant malware.

(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Russia; US: District of Columbia; US: Oregon
KEYWORDS: china; craigtimberg; districtofcolumbia; imsicatchers; oregon; ronwyden; russia; stingrays; surveillance; washingtoncompost; washingtonpost
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To: UCANSEE2
So.... it's like Facebook or Twitter ?

LOL! Yes, except with Fedbook and Tweaker, you are voluntarily signing up to be molested.... ;^)

21 posted on 04/03/2018 11:07:03 PM PDT by BullDog108 (.A Smith & Wesson beats four aces!)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
U.S. suspects listening devices in Washington
22 posted on 04/04/2018 3:07:46 AM PDT by BullDog108 (.A Smith & Wesson beats four aces!)
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To: UCANSEE2

You are correct but with a caveat. Yes it takes 3 towers for triangulation but the GPS is on unless you turn it off. Most people leave it on all the time. The tower can request location information.


23 posted on 04/06/2018 9:58:07 AM PDT by jrestrepo (See you all in Galt's gulch)
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To: jrestrepo
The tower can request location information.

Then, one must assume that a fake tower(stingray device) can request location information as well.

24 posted on 04/06/2018 12:51:19 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: UCANSEE2

Yup


25 posted on 04/06/2018 8:58:09 PM PDT by jrestrepo (See you all in Galt's gulch)
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