VICE: Bombshell Report Finds Phone Network Encryption Was Deliberately Weakened.

Haven't read this paper yet, so not quite sure what to make of the claim. But it always struck me that encryption on cellular networks is probably pretty weak anyway. I always assumed, the cellular carriers would be prioritizing efficiency of transmitting the packets, over any security considerations, and they have to deal with government agencies like the NSA making demands for access probably.

And this is not prevent internet traffic over cellular networks, from being secure, since that would be further encrypted generally with SSL/TLS in various ways by standard internet protocols.

Source:

VICE: Bombshell Report Finds Phone Network Encryption Was Deliberately Weakened.

Snippet(s):

The paper has sent shockwaves through the encryption community because of what it implies: The researchers believe that the mathematical probability of the weakness being introduced on accident is extremely low. Thus, they speculate that a weakness was intentionally put into the algorithm. After the paper was published, the group that designed the algorithm confirmed this was the case.

The Paper:

Cryptanalysis of the GPRS Encryption Algorithms GEA-1 and GEA-2


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a reply to: EnhancedInterrogator

Really not shocking or a bombshell at all. I love that the media acts shocked. We all no we have no privacy anymore.

a reply to: EnhancedInterrogator

the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), admitted that the algorithm contained a weakness, but said it was introduced because the export regulations at the time did not allow for stronger encryption.

Why would you limit the level of encryption if not to facilitate illegal espionage?

Imagine not knowing this late in the game that you are being watched and heard 24/7. Every now and then I say hello to my FBI agent though my phone camera. We have NO real privacy, all we've ever had is the illusion of privacy. It baffles me people trust when the government or certain companies say "you can trust us when we say all your information is confidential."

a reply to: BlankUsername

I believe technology has passed the point where every phone call, every bit of digital text is being analyzed in real-time and categorized according to priority.

The media is so obviously propaganda both ways, but so polarized that they inadvertently force you to choose the one you identify as sanity.


We can't take ourselves off the chess board. We seem unable to deny this manufactured reality.

And yet we seem outraged by it.

a reply to: EnhancedInterrogator

True anonymity and privacy in the information age in which we live is not really tangible, and has not been for quite sometime.

originally posted by: BlankUsername
a reply to: EnhancedInterrogator

Really not shocking or a bombshell at all. I love that the media acts shocked. We all no we have no privacy anymore.

Yup. tax havens openly sell phone spying on any country/citizen in the world to the highest bidder for decades. Investigative journos have been highlighting the problem for years.

Bereau of Investigative Journalism: Spy companies using Channel Islands to spy on mobile phones around the world

Private intelligence companies are using phone networks based in the Channel Islands to enable surveillance operations to be carried out against people around the world, including British and US citizens, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism can reveal following a joint reporting project with the Guardian.

Leaked data, documents and interviews with industry insiders who have access to sensitive information suggest that systemic weaknesses in the global telecoms infrastructure, and a particular vulnerability in Jersey and Guernsey, are being exploited by corporate spy businesses.

These businesses take advantage of some of the ways mobile phone networks across the world interact in order to access private information on targets, such as location information or, in more sophisticated applications, the content of calls and messages or other highly sensitive data.

I always thought every communication device/encryprtion system had to have intentional backdoors handed over to intel serviceds in order to get to market?

a reply to: EnhancedInterrogator

Doesn't all cellular calls, texts, and data go to the NSA Utah Data Center?

The list of "flagged" words is hilarious. My fave is "pork".

a reply to: bastion

Not just communication devices.

TVs, refrigerators, washers and dryers, cars, and home security systems.

If you fart the NSA sniffs it like Biden on a tween.