How does the false base station? – New Technology

       

What’s a fake base station, called IMSI catchers?

They have been around for over ten years and is used by both police forces in various countries of criminals and States’ intelligence services. The equipment was initially high but has since been greatly reduced in size.

How small?

There are models that can fit in a jacket pocket.

How does the IMSI-catcher?

A mobile phone connects to the bass station with the strongest signal. Is the false base station closest to or have the strongest transmitter, connected mobile call and data traffic there, and then listened to. The traffic is forwarded from the IMSI-catcher to mobile phone base stations. IMSI catcher thus performs as what is called a “man-in-the-middle attack”.

But is not the mobile network encrypted?

IMSI prisoners capable of reading the encrypted connections in GSM network, but not the more advanced encryption technology used in 3G and 4G networks. Therefore, they try to fake base stations outsource disturbances on 3G and 4G bands to make mobile calls to switch to GSM network. They can also instruct the phone to disable the encryption.

But you can not be intercepted if you do not speak Mobile?

Well, in some cases, the cell phone to function as a microphone and thus convey what is said nearby.

Why is the IMSI-catcher possible?

The mobile network must mobiles authenticate to the base station, but the base station does not have to authenticate to the mobile. This is a known security hole that allows IMSI prisoners possible.

What is being done to prevent this kind of eavesdropping?

Just over a year ago began to mobile developers within the international community XDA Developers to build a mobile app to be able to detect and warn of IMSI prisoners. Now they have released a first test version for Android phones. It is available to download and test this.

How can I detect if there is an IMSI catcher nearby?

It requires special test equipment or software in the mobile. Special mobiles can also show that the encryption is disabled. However, there are some things everyone can look out for:
– If the IMSI-catcher is active and manages a call can not normally handle other calls simultaneously. Other mobiles in the vicinity connected to the IMSI-catcher can not make or receive calls.
– IMSI catcher can usually only handle calls made from mobile and forwarded to the mobile network – not vice versa. If you are connected to the IMSI-catcher should therefore not be able to receive calls, even though one can make calls.

How do I know if I had been bugged?

IMSI catcher listening to the call and sends it on to the mobile network base station. But in contact with the base station occurs IMSI catcher as a mobile phone with own SIM card, and also pay for the call. A call via the IMSI-catcher charged therefore not on the wiretapped phone bill. In other words: If you have made a call and then not on a detailed phone bill, there is reason for suspicion.

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