They are gonna think they can fire up GNURadio and start decrypting likes it a program. Followed by a influx of "GNURadio is crap" comments...
On Wed, Feb 15, 2012 at 2:33 AM, David I. Emery <[email protected]>wrote: > > GoMo News > > February 13, 2012 Monday 12:43 PM EST > > Warning of increased GSM + TETRA attacks > > LENGTH: 471 words > > Rating: We're back to Squidgygate and police radio scanners again > > Here's a bit of an ominous warning. Much worse than mere voicemail > hacking. Greg Jones, a director of wireless security specialist, Digital > Assurance, is warning of the dangers posed by the increasing availability > of low cost software defined radio (SDR) solutions. He says, "It's > extremely likely that criminal gangs, hacktivists and others will all show > a growing interest in [SDR]. And we're not just talking about the hacking > of individual mobile phones here but the possible compromise of critical > infrastructure." In a nutshell, what Mr Jones is suggesting is that thanks > to SDR it's no longer possible to assume that calls made over commercial > and specialist wireless networks are inherently secure. We're back to the > bad old days when ham radio enthusiasts could list into analogue cellular > calls. Who remembers the infamous Squidgygate tapes, for example?There's > nothing inherently evil about SDR technology. In effect, its arrival has > helped to make devices like cellular phones c > heaper by dispensing with the need for multiple, dedicated wireless > chipsets. > > So what's going on? Jones says, "Those attempting to compromise wireless > communications systems in the past have used expensive equipment coupled > with advanced signal analysis skills." > > This is a reference to the fact that breaking standard GSM signals > previously required a supercomputer. Not any more, apparently. > > "SDR devices typically use a standard PC to capture and manipulate radio > spectrum potentially allowing an attacker to capture and demodulate > advanced radio systems which were previously inaccessible to the hacking > community," Jones explains. > > He doesn't actually mention it but if that 'standard PC' includes a laptop > we could be in deep trouble. Think innocuous white van sitting outside your > home/office. > > Which advanced systems is he talking about? Well, the list includes mobile > networks such as GSM, Wi-fi, WiMAX, DECT and even TETRA. > > So that's not just your mobile phone, your laptop and your cordless phone > - we're also looking at hacking emergency services. > > Think police radio scanners used by crooks to know if they've been > detected yet. > > Just to make the point Jones even names the tools a budding SDR hacker > needs. The USRP (Universal Software Radio Peripheral) coupled with open > source software like GNU Radio. Oops. > > What particularly worries GoMo News is the potential to 'spoof' a GSM base > station and intercept the calls you think you are making to your bank. > > Jones is a master of understatement. "If one were to consider the > implications of a co-ordinated attack against a critical communications > system over say London - even if the attack were restricted simply to > signal jamming - the potential is there to cause massive disruption," Greg > Jones stated. > > Olympics 2012, anyone? > > ______________________________________________________________ > Scan-DC mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/scan-dc > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > ----- End forwarded message ----- > > -- > Dave Emery N1PRE/AE, [email protected] DIE Consulting, Weston, Mass > 02493 > "An empty zombie mind with a forlorn barely readable weatherbeaten > 'For Rent' sign still vainly flapping outside on the weed encrusted pole - > in > celebration of what could have been, but wasn't and is not to be now > either." > > > _______________________________________________ > Discuss-gnuradio mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss-gnuradio >
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