spyology

the shadow · Trimis: 23/03/2013 02:13 Titlul subiectului: Stealth phones, really?

Stealth phones, really? Stealth phones, really?

Today I'll talk about some special (?) mobile phones.

On the market are available a few modified cell phones called stealth phones or untraceable phones. At the first sight there are enough reasons to believe that you are 100% protected against eavesdropping or interception performed by interceptors. At least for unadvised users, this phones seems to be an ultimate gadget needed for avoiding illegal or lawful cell interception. But is that true?

Well... things are not like that. Far from being an ultimate hi-tech barricade against cell interceptors, this kind of phones are giving to the user a false sense of security, leading in the end of the day to problems that the user is never dreaming...

Let me explain to you my point of view.
Cell interception systems are using as primary aquisition data the IMSI number, not IMEI code. By the way, that's why this devices are called IMSI catchers. Sure, the most advanced cell interceptors can perform a scan by IMEI or even phone number, detecting even the phone model, firmware version and OS.
My doubt is: how can a stealth phone avoid the interception by changing his IMEI, when a IMSI catcher is not looking for IMEI but for IMSI?

IMEI code is just a piece from interception algorithm. If you change the phone IMEI, will remain at least one other pieces: IMSI. This can not be changed, being stored on the sim card. And a cell interceptor can find easly the phone, even the oldest versions by scanning for IMSI's around...

So, how effective can be a stealth phone in terms of security? In my opinion a stealth phone fails to provide a real protection against eavesdropping, being focused on a false issue: changing IMEI. Probably spooks are having a good laugh on this stealth phones.

Sure, I'm waiting for your point of view.
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