cdma evdo 1 Report post Posted January 3, 2011 Mobile network cracked by hackers Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8233748/Mobile-network-cracked-by-hackers.html Reported on 03 January 2011, by Matt Warman, Consumer Technology Editor, The Telegraph, UK Simple technology can be used to eavesdrop on the network used for most mobile phone calls and texts, security researchers have shown Security researchers have shown that the network used to make 80 per cent of the world’s phone calls is vulnerable to hacking, building on work demonstrated in previous years. Karsten Nohl and Sylvain Munaut demonstrated their “toolkit” at the Chaos Computer Club Congress (CCC) in Berlin. They showed off an "end-to-end" hack, from identifying a phone to stealing its data, which completes work they showed last year indicating that it was easy to crack the GSM network’s security codes. Simon Bransfield-Garth, chief executive of mobile phone security firm Cellcrypt, said that "Businesses must plan now for the eventuality that their mobile voice calls will come under increasing attack. A ‘policy of hope’ towards mobile phone security is not adequate." He said that voice services should be treated with the same caution as emails. Most mobile phone calls worldwide are made using the GSM standard. GSM calls are protected by a 22-year-old encryption algorithm, known as A5/1. The algorithm, which was first cracked in 1999, is designed to prevent mobile phone calls from being intercepted by eavesdroppers. It works by forcing mobile phones and base stations to continually change frequencies. A typical phone conversation changes frequencies around 60 times. The GSM Association has had a stronger algorithm, called A5/3, available since 2007 but few mobile network providers have made the upgrade. Although the pair are not publishing every step of their work, Mr Nohl also said that it would be easy for an amateur to emulate. According to analysts, it raises the prospect of hackers targeting wealthy individuals. Stan Schatt, of ABI Research, added, that “Effective email security has become routine but our research shows most businesses do not apply anything like the same level of robust security to cell phone calls. Those that do not respond are exposing themselves to attack". The methods used rely on taking a phone and swapping its basic software to a new version. Mr Nohl told BBC News, "We used the cheap Motorola telephones because a description of their firmware leaked to the internet.” This allowed hackers to adapt it to reveal all data broadcast. GSM’s encryption system can be defeated using a key, called a rainbow table, generated by Mr Nohl’s other work. The GSMA, which represents operators and phone makers, estimates that there are more than five billion GSM mobiles in use around the world. It has not responded to requests for comment about the research, but last year they said that although Mr Nohl’s research made it theoretically possible to eavesdrop on a call, in practice such eavesdropping would be unlikely. Mr Nohl said that commercial equipment to spy on calls currently cost upwards of £35,000. The kit demonstrated at the Berlin event cost far less than that, he told the BBC. For instance, the Motorola phones used to grab data cost only 10 euros (£9) each. Mr Nohl added the motivation for carrying out the research was to create awareness around the problem and perhaps prompt operators to improve security. A few simple steps could make it much harder for eavesdroppers, he said. "Raising their awareness is the most likely outcome, but the technical changes would be better." 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
commonman 228 Report post Posted January 3, 2011 reason to use CDMA Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Karthik R 246 Report post Posted January 3, 2011 It is essentially a question of which one is the tougher nut to crack. Being the more widely used telecom standard around the world, equipment for GSM interception is more easily available. To this effect, a report last month in the Economic Times claimed that illegal interception is prevalent at large in India and device for both GSM and CDMA is available for as low as Rs.65 lakhs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
parin 857 Report post Posted January 3, 2011 On CDMA alteast ur data wont be hacked i think Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Venkatagiri 53 Report post Posted December 27, 2011 Any GSM phone vulnerable to hacking A well-known expert on mobile phone security says a vulnerability in a widely used wireless technology could allow hackers to gain remote control of phones, instructing them to send text messages or make calls. They could use the vulnerability in the GSM which is used by billions of people in about 80 percent of the global mobile market, to make calls or send texts to expensive, premium phone and messaging services in scams, said Karsten Nohl, head of Germany's To read more: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/hardware/any-gsm-phone-vulnerable-to-hacking-researcher/articleshow/11265190.cms Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
