Flaws Allow Every 3G Device To Be Tracked

mask.of.sanity writes "New privacy threats have been uncovered by security researchers that could allow every device operating on 3G networks to be tracked. The vulnerabilities could be exploited with cheap commercial off-the-shelf technology to reveal the location of phones and other 3G-capable devices operating on all 3G compliant networks. It was similar, but different, to previous research that demonstrated how attackers could redirect a victim's outgoing traffic to different networks."

Comments

"Flaw" allows us to be tracked.

[mosb1000]

I'm pretty sure the word flaw should be in quotation marks in this context.

Re:"Flaw" allows us to be tracked.

[mabhatter654]

I don't see how you think any ACTIVE radio transmitter can't be tracked? By definition, phones connect to towers and that gets logged for network purposes. All these people are doing is adding their own radio to the mix, which your phone happily pings to see if ithat "tower" useful. That's the whole definition of a network and "cellular" communication.

Next thing you know, they'll be telling me my IP address is in EVERY packet I send and receive on the Internet!!!!

Re:Not thatbad

[MrZilla]

Sure. If they know the IMSI of the mobiles that the protesters are using in advanced. This attack gives the TMSI of the device, which is a temporary identifier, and will change when the mobile roams outside of the current location area.

Then they need to set up compromised base stations all over the city if they want to track this protester, and I am sure that there are easier ways to go about that.