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Cell Phone Encryption Exploit Demonstrated
Saxophonist brings us a story from Forbes about security researchers who demonstrated a new method for breaking the encryption on GSM cellular signals. The presentation was made at the recent Black Hat conference, and it's notable for the fact that the technique only requires "about half an hour with just $1,000 in computer storage and processing equipment." The researchers also claim to have found a faster method, which they intend to market for $200,000 - $500,000. Quoting:
"Undetectable, 'passive' systems like the one that Muller and Hulton have created aren't new either, though previous technologies required about a million dollars worth of hardware and used a "brute force" tactic that tried 33 million times as many passwords to decrypt a cell signal. All of that means, Hulton and Muller argue, that their cheaper technique is simply drawing needed attention to a problem that mobile carriers have long ignored--one that well-financed eavesdroppers may have been exploiting for years. 'If governments or other people with millions of dollars can listen to your conversations right now, why shouldn't your next-door neighbor?' Muller says."
# cat
Damn, my RAM is full of cats. MEOW!!
'If governments or other people with millions of dollars can listen to your conversations right now, why shouldn't your next-door neighbor?'
Because the Government hates the competition?
--- Grow a pair, liberals... stop letting the Republicans bully you!
Try it again. I fixed the link.
How we know is more important than what we know.
message to your significant other: if he ever uses a non-gsm phone get the frying pan :)
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Well, as you rightly say, most people don't matter in the grand scheme of things. At least that's how it can appear. But in oppressive countries, it's the occasional person in the occasional 'situation' where this stuff really matters, including (and especially) government interception. From that point of view, everybody matters, because if there are no trees (you and me), then there is no forest for fugitives to hide in. Never use a mobile phone, a land-phone, an unencrypted internet connection, etc. for anything that really matters. Same goes for the old fashioned things like avoiding public places and whatever else.
Everybody should use as much encryption as they can manage - it's cheap insurance. If you want to make a difference without taking risks, that's the way to go. It means others who are braver and more able than ourselves can go on carrying on their work saving society, blowing whistles and so forth without getting their carotids slashed.
Any encryption that is not complete from point of origin to target is meaningless (if you're trying to hide your communications).
Do it yourself, because no one else will do it yourself. [beta blockade 10-17 Feb]
Oh, you're Danish? Don't worry then, even if you neighbor could intercept your calls, they wouldn't be able to understand the meaningless, gutural sounds to which Danish evolved.
Among the phones included clearly can't be the iPhone, otherwise the title would be, "iPhone encrpytion exploit demonstrated!!"
Its a FAKE!
Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress at this period in history.