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Legal Spying Via the Cell Phone System
An anonymous reader writes "Two researchers say they have found a way to exploit weaknesses in the mobile telecom system to legally spy on people by figuring out the private cell phone number of anyone they want, tracking their whereabouts, and listening to their voice mail."
From TFA: DePetrillo used open-source PBX software to spoof the outgoing caller ID and then automated phone calls to himself, triggering the system to force a name lookup. I thought spoofing caller ID was now illegal...
FTA: ""It's not illegal, nor is it a breach of terms of service," Bailey said."
I get mailed revised TOS and privacy policies from companies on a weekly basis. Now that this is publicized, how long will it stay 'legal'? Usually, loudly exclaiming "nener-nener-boo-boo you can't catch me" to one of the largest, consumer unfriendly, profit motivated industries gets their attention.
'We are trying to prove ourselves wrong as quickly as possible, because only in that way can we find progress.' RPF
If it's off for the purposes of an airline, (that is, radio off in order prevent interference), then it's off for the purposes of this, since it depends on the phone communicating with the cell tower.
With the ability to read the constitution - and reason above a third grade level - it is 100% clear that spying on a US citizen's communications without probable cause AND a warrant is not an authorized power for the US government or a US state. It is also doubtful that there exists, or can exist with constitution as currently constructed, a justification for a private citizen exercising such a power.
I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.