US Official Warns a Cell Network Flaw Is Being Exploited for Spying

Week 2:  US Official Warns a Cell Network Flaw Is Being Exploited for Spying

The cellular network interconnection system known as SS7, together with its more recent upgrade known as Diameter, has long been seen as a major security and privacy concern. Researchers have issued a warning: hackers have the ability to reroute cellular data, giving them the power to monitor people or listen in on their discussions, provided they can breach a mobile provider's system or even build their own. A US official is now sounding the alarm, claiming that this method has been applied multiple times in the US against actual victims.

In a public filing in response to inquiries from the Federal Communications Commission, CISA's senior adviser for telecommunications, Kevin Briggs, confirmed that he has witnessed numerous instances of Americans having their locations tracked via SS7 or Diameter. These include one person whose location was tracked in March 2022 and three more the following month. This information was first reported by 404 Media. In addition, he alerted us to indications that a great deal more persons had been targeted, but that spies had concealed their abuse of the system with a variety of cunning tactics.

US Official Warns a Cell Network Flaw Is Being Exploited for Spying