WARNING: THIS [CELL] PHONE IS TAPPED

The past months have seen many reports on a new cell phone tapping tactic -- the "roving bug":

• USAToday: Your cellphone is more powerful than you probably know
• CNet News.com: FBI taps cell phone mic as eavesdropping tool
• ABCNews: Can You Hear Me Now?

This new technique was supposedly used against an alleged mobster, John Ardito. According to reports, the FBI was able to send a signal to his cell phone that opened the mic on the phone and allowed them to listen in. Despite all the news reports, I'm not sure I'm ready to believe it and I'll explain why.

The interesting (and somewhat hard to believe part) is that the FBI could listen in without the phone making a call -- they weren't listening to his phone calls, but rather, they were listening to the ambient sounds and voices around the cell phone. That's right, while the phone is sitting in the tap target's pocket it can be instructed to open the microphone and allow listening.

Various surveillance experts and technical gurus find this hard to swallow -- suggesting that the phone would warm up during this event (since it's sending voice data to the intercept location), the tap target would notice, etc. I've learned that new technology can sometimes seem like magic, as such, you should never underestimate the power of smart people and the "magic" technology they create. Therefore, while I also find this form of tapping hard to believe, I know better than to write it off as fiction -- especially since the story has had time to bake and it has been covered, researched, and investigated by numerous media outlets. I've also seen the specs for the currently implemented tapping protocols for GSM, Cellular and SMS systems -- which makes a roving tap seem all the more possible.

The current GSM, Cellular and SMS phone tapping specifications for "lawful interception" (wiretapping) can be found here. These documents explain how the cellular network are setup to allow Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) to tap a cellular telephone and the data or text it transmits. A picture might provide a better example:

 

Here are some interesting quotes from those documents:

• To be effective, interception must take place without the knowledge of either party to the communication. Therefore, decryption must also take place without either party being aware that it is happening.

• No indication shall be given to any person except authorised [sic] personnel that the intercept function has been activated on a target.

• The invocation of lawful interception shall not alter the operation of a target's services or provide indication to any party involved in communication with the target.

• ...it shall be a national option as to whether the network provides the CC (Content of Communication) to the agency decrypted, or encrypted with a key available to the agency.

Looking through these documents, it's clear there is a very extensive system in place to allow cellular phone tapping, but so far, I've yet to see any proof of the "passive listening tap" that was allegedly used against John Ardito. And, no one has produced such a document, nor have they shown a phone with such a hidden function. I'd like to see a bit more demonstrative evidence, despite the fact that if the FBI did have such a function, they would probably keep it closely guarded.

As they say, the jury may still be out on this one.

Comments

[Alan Bis]

Call your phone from another phone and listen to the noise that comes out of the speakers before it rings. There is a period of at least a second as your phone is preparing to communicate where it makes a low frequency. http://normanhenderson.k2free.com/concert80.html concert pink ticket

[wohaha]

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try the gps jammer, to block gps tracking/navigation/logging systems.
more info at www.gpsjammers.net

[Annon]

I have been suspect of this since the birth of my daughter... Here's an experiment... Set your phone next to a pair of computer speakers that are turned on. Call your phone from another phone and listen to the noise that comes out of the speakers before it rings. There is a period of at least a second as your phone is preparing to communicate where it makes a low frequency noise that can be heard through the speakers - a second or so later the phone lights up and rings. Now leave your phone at your bedside as you sleep and leave it next to the same speakers. You will notice more than once throughout the night the phone will make the same noises as if it were preparing to send or receive a call - however, the phone does not "warm up" or ring.

For more detailed information on the governments "recording methods" you can check out the documentary by Pullitzer Prize winning journalist, Hedrick Smith, entitled "Spying on the Homefront".

The issue is not that they are recording and paying someone to "listen" to the conversations themelves. It's that they are recording EVERYTHING as a data gathering operation and storing it "in case" they need it later... if they had a case to prosecute for instance. Rather than wishing that the prosecution knew what was going through the mind of their suspect before something went down - they already have it... just refer to a specific drive in a specific NSA storage facility and there you have it!!!

Just like looking back at your internet logs from your ISP - those are stored too.

If you don't think we're being recorded I really suggest you see Hedrick's movie. It will blow your mind. 1 NARUS 6400 CPU records all cell phone, telephone, fax, and internet transmissions for 10,000,000 people. That means only 40 machines would be needed for the entire United States. Ther's one installed at AT&T in San Fransisco.

LISTEN UP!!!

[Matt]

I don't get it

[Zone Alarmingly poor Software]

Perhaps the "no interruption" clause will become a government powered "repeater" for poor verizonwireless performance. Sign me up!

P.S. Speaking of security.. I don't trust you so NoScript is doing its job.. way to go by forcing CAPTCHA then denying post AFTER all the hoops by only then noticing NoScript in action

[Michael Brzezinski]

Why do people in this day and age find the idea of backdoors in operating systems so unbeleivble?
Of coarse your cell phone (at least any one produced in the last 10 years) emits signals even when not in a call mode.
and if the provider couldn't jiggle the handle so to speak you phone would never receive any incomming calls at all.
It isn't just the Govonment sweeping communications, Big buisness does it to.
as for call volumes, can anybody say "LINE EATERS?"

[Me]

I wish this technology were only fantasy. My workmates installed it on my cell without my knowledge. I was hurt. Now I'm angry. I'm still hurt. What good does it do anyone to know my private conversations with my mom? While they are listening to my life, they ignore their own loved ones.

[John]

Nice post! You have said it very well. Keep going.

[mike]

I've seen this technology in action. It was demonstrated on a TV program (which was, if i remember correctly, videotaped in the UK).
The video showed how an individual could focus-in on a particular subject, find his/her cell signal, tap into it, follow the subject via cell signal - then as the subject walked into a building, sent a signal to the subjects' phone, opening only the microphone.

It was phreaky. 007 cool. But still freaky.

[it works]

I have copy of the bug on my phone and it works even if your phone is switched off. To disable it you need to remove the phone battery. It is not just prevalent in the US as this bug was blue-toothed onto my phone in a city in South Africa.

[Roger Tolces]

In the stelth audiomode, the sound is gathered, compressed and sent out when the register fills in a burst transmission.
Roer

[Richie Rich]

It's worth pointing out that MI5 (the UK Security services) were discussing the possibility of creating a "non-electronic" bug made out of resonating crystal as long ago as 1961. The suggestion was that they should make them into the shape of ashtrays and give them as gifts to Soviet Ambassadors embassies around the world. Surely this works on the same principle...

[Fredrik]

Jesus guys! come on! why in hell would your government listen to your phone calls? If they really do this, they listen to phones of their suspects, not anyone! if it was everybody in the US, how many people would they have to employ to listen to your phone calls? How much would this cost? do you think you have enough money? no you don't... If you didn't kill anyone or if you're not planning a terrorist attack, WHY WOULD YOU WORRY?