Close Menu
Technotification
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Technotification
    • Home
    • News
    • How To
    • Explained
    • Facts
    • Lists
    • Programming
    • Security
    • Gaming
    Technotification
    Home › Security › A Hacked Mobile Antenna Could Spy On Cell Phone Conversations

    A Hacked Mobile Antenna Could Spy On Cell Phone Conversations

    By Vikram Singh RaoJuly 9, 2016
    Facebook Twitter Reddit LinkedIn
    verisign

    Two security experts with the firm iSEC told Reuters that they’ve developed a system that would allow pretty much anyone, with as little as $250 worth of equipment, to make a mobile spy station that could get illicit access to any Verizon device. Ever wanted to feel like the NSA?

    The hack relies on a femtocell, a smallish mobile antennae sold by wireless carriers like Verizon and AT&T that act like very small cell towers. You typically use a femtocell in areas where you don’t have cell service; plug it into your broadband connection and it’ll deliver a strong signal with about a 40-foot range. Verizon calls their model a “Network Extender” and sells it for $250, though they can be bought used for less. This particular hack is the first on a CDMA network like Verizon’s (CDMA is one kind of network protocol, used by Sprint and Verizon. T-Mobile, AT&T, and just about every European and Asian networks all use the GSM protocol), though there’s no reason to think other networks’ femtocells couldn’t be similarly hacked.

    The two security experts figured out a way, which they’re not disclosing, to hack a Verizon femtocell and, according to Reuters, “eavesdrop on text messages, photos and phone calls made with an Android phone and an iPhone.” But the most concerning thing is that these femtocells are fairly mobile; with an additional antenna to boost that 40-foot range and a mobile source of battery power, you could stick a hacked femtocell in a backpack, drop it in a crowded place, and hack into anyone who mistakenly uses the network.

    It’s especially insidious because unlike a Wi-Fi connection, users have no indication that they’re connected to a femtocell rather than a regular tower. Cell service doesn’t require a login or confirmation; it’s assumed you want to be connected to your network whenever you’re in range of anything that’ll connect you. There’s no alert for the same reason you don’t get an alert when you switch from connecting to one tower to connecting to another tower: it happens too often and it’s unlikely to be hacked.

    But a femtocell can, apparently, be hacked. The security experts aren’t saying how, waiting to disclose it in a few weeks to a pair of hacker conferences in Las Vegas, the Black Hat and Def Con conferences.

    Verizon says as soon as they were made aware of the security hole, they patched their femtocells to plug the hole. The iSEC guys say their hacked femtocell still works, because they had hacked it before March, when the patch was released. That means the hack is no longer of much use to evildoers, but might indicate that hacking a femtocell isn’t quite as hard as Verizon would like it to be.
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Tumblr Reddit Telegram WhatsApp
    Vikram Singh Rao
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • X (Twitter)
    • LinkedIn

    I am an entrepreneur at heart who has made his hobby turned a passion, his profession now.

    Related Posts

    The Psychology of a Phishing Email: How Scammers Play with Your Mind

    July 16, 2024

    9 Essential Elements of a Strong Cyber Security Management System

    July 3, 2024

    Common Cyber Attacks and How to Prevent Them

    July 3, 2024

    How Cyber Security Paid Training Prepares You for Real-World Threats

    June 13, 2024

    The Role of Security in Server Colocation Environments

    March 12, 2024

    Navigating the Waters: Best Practices for Phishing Testing in 2024

    February 19, 2024
    Lists You May Like

    10 Sites to Watch Free Korean Drama [2025 Edition]

    January 2, 2025

    10 Best RARBG Alternative Sites in April 2025 [Working Links]

    April 1, 2025

    The Pirate Bay Proxy List in 2025 [Updated List]

    January 2, 2025

    10 Best Torrent Search Engine Sites (2025 Edition)

    February 12, 2025

    10 Best GTA V Roleplay Servers in 2025 (Updated List)

    January 6, 2025

    5 Best Torrent Sites for Software in 2025

    January 2, 2025

    1337x Alternatives, Proxies, and Mirror Sites in 2025

    January 2, 2025

    10 Best Torrent Sites for eBooks in 2025 [Working]

    January 2, 2025

    10 Best Anime Torrent Sites in 2025 [Working Sites]

    January 6, 2025

    Top Free Photo Editing Software For PC in 2025

    January 2, 2025
    Pages
    • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Careers
    Privacy

    Information such as the type of browser being used, its operating system, and your IP address is gathered in order to enhance your online experience.

    © 2013 - 2025 Technotification | All rights reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.