GSM: it's «broken»

Staff Writer
17 Sep 2010
00:00

Want to hack into a GSM network? All you need is open source software and less than $1500 worth of gear.

That's according to Chris Paget, who demonstrated the hack at the Defcon conference at Las Vegas in August, using two antennas to spoof AT&T and T-Mobile base stations, connecting dozens of cellphones in the room.

Paget's is not the first "IMSI catcher" - police and security bodies around the world use expensive commercial systems to tap into GSM networks. However, his hack using low-cost gear illustrates that 2G GSM networks are now vulnerable to a broad range of attacks

"GSM is broken - it's just plain broken," Paget declared.

The GSM Association disagreed, saying that any eavesdropper would have difficulty targeting a specific user and that the interception only works within a certain range.

MORE ARTICLES ON AT&T, CHRIS PAGET, HACKING, GSM, GSMA, SECURITY, T-MOBILE

Related content

Follow Telecom Asia Sport!
Comments
No Comments Yet! Be the first to share what you think!
This website uses cookies
This provides customers with a personalized experience and increases the efficiency of visiting the site, allowing us to provide the most efficient service. By using the website and accepting the terms of the policy, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with the terms of this policy.