# \[alanhenney@aim.com: \[Scan-DC\] Warning of increased GSM + TETRA attacks\] **URL:** \ **Category:** GNU Radio\ **Created:** [February 15, 2012, 8:35am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/alanhenney-aim-com-scan-dc-warning-of-increased-gsm-tetra-attacks/216826 "2012-02-15T08:35:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![luislavena](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/0ea827/32.png) [@luislavena](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/luislavena)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 8:35am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/alanhenney-aim-com-scan-dc-warning-of-increased-gsm-tetra-attacks/216826/1 "2012-02-15T08:35:07Z")
GoMo News February 13, 2012 Monday 12:43 PM EST Warning of increased GSM + TETRA attacks LENGTH: 471 words Rating: We’re back to Squidgygate and police radio scanners again Here’s a bit of an ominous warning. Much worse than mere voicemail hacking. Greg Jones, a director of wireless security specialist, Digital Assurance, is warning of the dangers posed by the increasing availability of low cost software defined radio (SDR) solutions. He says, “It’s extremely likely that criminal gangs, hacktivists and others will all show a growing interest in [SDR]. And we’re not just talking about the hacking of individual mobile phones here but the possible compromise of critical infrastructure.” In a nutshell, what Mr Jones is suggesting is that thanks to SDR it’s no longer possible to assume that calls made over commercial and specialist wireless networks are inherently secure. We’re back to the bad old days when ham radio enthusiasts could list into analogue cellular calls. Who remembers the infamous Squidgygate tapes, for example?There’s nothing inherently evil about SDR technology. In effect, its arrival has helped to make devices like cellular phones c heaper by dispensing with the need for multiple, dedicated wireless chipsets. So what’s going on? Jones says, “Those attempting to compromise wireless communications systems in the past have used expensive equipment coupled with advanced signal analysis skills.” This is a reference to the fact that breaking standard GSM signals previously required a supercomputer. Not any more, apparently. “SDR devices typically use a standard PC to capture and manipulate radio spectrum potentially allowing an attacker to capture and demodulate advanced radio systems which were previously inaccessible to the hacking community,” Jones explains. He doesn’t actually mention it but if that ‘standard PC’ includes a laptop we could be in deep trouble. Think innocuous white van sitting outside your home/office. Which advanced systems is he talking about? Well, the list includes mobile networks such as GSM, Wi-fi, WiMAX, DECT and even TETRA. So that’s not just your mobile phone, your laptop and your cordless phone - we’re also looking at hacking emergency services. Think police radio scanners used by crooks to know if they’ve been detected yet. Just to make the point Jones even names the tools a budding SDR hacker needs. The USRP (Universal Software Radio Peripheral) coupled with open source software like GNU Radio. Oops. What particularly worries GoMo News is the potential to ‘spoof’ a GSM base station and intercept the calls you think you are making to your bank. Jones is a master of understatement. “If one were to consider the implications of a co-ordinated attack against a critical communications system over say London - even if the attack were restricted simply to signal jamming - the potential is there to cause massive disruption,” Greg Jones stated. Olympics 2012, anyone? * * * Scan-DC mailing list Home: [Scan-DC Info Page](http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/scan-dc) Help: [QSL.net :: Mailman Mailing List FAQ](http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm) Post: [mailto:removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) This list hosted by: [http://www.qsl.net](http://www.qsl.net) Please help support this email list: [QSL.net - Donate Site](http://www.qsl.net/donate.html) ----- End forwarded message ----- – Dave Emery N1PRE/AE, removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid DIE Consulting, Weston, Mass 02493 "An empty zombie mind with a forlorn barely readable weatherbeaten ‘For Rent’ sign still vainly flapping outside on the weed encrusted pole - in celebration of what could have been, but wasn’t and is not to be now either." ---
**Author:** ![David\_ISEmery](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@David\_ISEmery](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/David_ISEmery)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/alanhenney-aim-com-scan-dc-warning-of-increased-gsm-tetra-attacks/216826/2 "2012-02-15T18:54:05Z")
They are gonna think they can fire up GNURadio and start decrypting likes it a program. Followed by a influx of “GNURadio is crap” comments… ---
**Author:** ![David\_ISEmery](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@David\_ISEmery](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/David_ISEmery)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/alanhenney-aim-com-scan-dc-warning-of-increased-gsm-tetra-attacks/216826/3 "2012-02-15T19:41:19Z")
You know, I wasn’t going to respond to this, but what the heck: July, 1930 - Anytown USA “Criminals Use Electronics to Foil Police” The increasing use of electronic communications by police and other law enforcement bodies has lead criminals to engage in methods to interrupt and eavesdrop (listen to) those communications using off-the-shelf or home-built devices. Emerging retail outlets such as “Radio Shack” (Boston, Ma) and “Allied Radio” (Chicago, Il) have facilitated such criminal activity by providing not only complete radio receiver sets, but components such as vacuum tubes, condensers, resistors, and such that dedicated criminals can use to build their own specialized devices. Even a simple “crystal set” can be modified by interested criminals to listen to police-radio frequencies. This is a worrying trend, and regulators are busy considering ways to put a stop to it. – Marcus L. Principal Investigator Shirleys Bay Radio Astronomy Consortium > **[Live Draw HK Tercepat | Result HK | HK Pools | Live HK | HK Prize Hari Ini](https://www.sbrac.org/)** > > Temukan live draw hk tercepat melalui halaman hk pools yang resmi dan dapatkan result hk prize melalui live hk secara langsung di situs kami.