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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.
Copy edit much, /.?
Not for the first time, Slashdot failed to publicly acknowledge the existence of editorial staff by post what appearing salad words and abominate.
How much do the Russians pay you to spread lies? Or do you simply do it out of the goodness of your heart.
Step 1) Use gerrymandering to win the majority of congressional seats, despite most Americans not agreeing with your politics.
Step 2) Win the presidental election by a hare's tooth, despite the your opponent being the single most unlikable politician to ever win the nomination.
Step 3) Then, despite being the first time EVER when one party has a majority of Congress, SCOTUS, and holds the Presidency, totally fail to get most of what you claim to want done.
Step 4) When everyone laughs at your total incompetence, make up a never before heard of "deep state" of enemies that supposedly secretly run the US government and blame it all on them.
Yes, mom, it wasn't me that spilled grape juice on your white carpet, it was my invisible friend DEEP STATE.
All evidence put forth has shown Russian collusion to be mainly a DNC thing.
Everyone uses gerrymandering when they're in power. The mistake isn't gerrymandering itself, but letting the clowns draw their own lines.
Trump won by a landslide in the electoral college (the only vote that counts).
SCOTUS doesn't have party affiliations like Congress or the President do. Further, you don't use SCOTUS to "get" things "done". They judge. Other than that, Trump has gotten a lot done, and is doing a lot. He's just not doing what you want.
Most people aren't laughing at Trump, but at CNN, etc. Hell, CNN's own polls show Trump's approval ratings climbing steadily. Further, the "deep state" is absolutely real. Or do you not remember Snowden, Assange, Wikileaks, etc. spelling it all out for you?