Slashdot Mirror
US Suspects Listening Devices in Washington (apnews.com)
For the first time, the U.S. government has publicly acknowledged the existence in Washington of what appear to be rogue devices that foreign spies and criminal could be using to track individual cellphones and intercept calls and messages. From a report: The use of what are known as cellphone-site simulators by foreign powers has long been a concern, but American intelligence and law enforcement agencies -- which use such eavesdropping equipment themselves -- have been silent on the issue until now. In a March 26 letter to Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, the Department of Homeland Security acknowledged that last year it identified suspected unauthorized cell-site simulators in the nation's capital. The agency said it had not determined the type of devices in use or who might have been operating them. Nor did it say how many it detected or where.
The agency's response, obtained by The Associated Press from Wyden's office, suggests little has been done about such equipment, known popularly as Stingrays after a brand common among U.S. police departments. The Federal Communications Commission, which regulates the nation's airwaves, formed a task force on the subject four years ago, but it never produced a report and no longer meets regularly. The devices work by tricking mobile devices into locking onto them instead of legitimate cell towers, revealing the exact location of a particular cellphone. More sophisticated versions can eavesdrop on calls by forcing phones to step down to older, unencrypted 2G wireless technology. Some attempt to plant malware.
The agency's response, obtained by The Associated Press from Wyden's office, suggests little has been done about such equipment, known popularly as Stingrays after a brand common among U.S. police departments. The Federal Communications Commission, which regulates the nation's airwaves, formed a task force on the subject four years ago, but it never produced a report and no longer meets regularly. The devices work by tricking mobile devices into locking onto them instead of legitimate cell towers, revealing the exact location of a particular cellphone. More sophisticated versions can eavesdrop on calls by forcing phones to step down to older, unencrypted 2G wireless technology. Some attempt to plant malware.
How many plastic sheets do you bedwetting McCarthyites go through in a week? Russiagate is by far the dumbest conspiracy ever, and the one with the most plot holes. And you do realize that you're attacking Trump from the right here, yes? The far right.
Too bad Dems are too busy getting Punked again by the same people who lied about Iraq to do something constructive on this or other issues - but that was the point with this little psyop to begin with. And for all the bullshit about Hillary winning the "popular vote" (such a thing doesn't exist for POTUS) they aren't moving an inch to disband the Electoral College. By their own numbers they could have had a full quarter century of unbroken Democratic control of the White House, but it's Russia Russia Russia 24/7.
Could have been worse - could have been like Obama and the filibuster-proof Democratic majority in 2009, who had to contort themselves into pretzel after pretzel in order to avoid passing any of the items they campaigned and won on. Public option, card check, ENDA, repealing DADT & DOMA - all went through the paper shredder before being deposited in the nearest outhouse. Now that shit was embarrassing.