Mobile spying devices detected around D.C.
The Department of Homeland Security said it has confirmed the existence of mobile snooping devices around Washington, D.C. — by either foreign actors or criminals.
The devices — known as stingrays, cell-site simulators or International Mobile Subscriber Identity [IMSI]-catchers— act as fake cellphone towers and can intercept messages and conversations as mobile phones connect to the towers.
A letter from the DHS, in response to questions from Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, said officials came across the unauthorized cell-site simulators last year.
“The National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) has observed anomalous activity in the National Capital Region that appears to be consistent with International Mobile Subscriber Identity catchers,” the letter to Wyden, dated March 26, said.
The department has not yet determined the devices’ origin but said they could be the result of foreign governments’ activities.
U.S. officials did not elaborate on how many devices were discovered or where they were found.
The letter said the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has authorized use of snooping devices since 2011, but only to local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. [C-Net reported, “The FBI uses similar surveillance technology through its ‘Stingray’ program, which police officers also use.”
Christopher Krebs, a DHS official and top leader of the NPPD, said use of IMSI catchers by malicious actors to track and monitor cellular users is “unlawful and threatens the security of communications, resulting in safety, economic and privacy risks.”
[Krebs, the head of the NPPD, also noted that the same “anomalous activity” had been detected outside of the nation’s capital, but didn’t specify where, or how many there are.
Krebs said in the letter that the threat of snooping devices was recognized and addressed in a DHS report in April 2017. [In the last line of Krebs’ letter to Wyden, he wrote, “overall, NPPD believes the malicious use of IMSI catchers is a real and growing risk.
Article Source:https://www.studentnewsdaily.com/daily-news-article/mobile-spying-devices-detected-around-d-c/
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VOCABULARY WORDS
1.Device/noun: a thing made or adapted for a particular purpose, especially a piece of mechanical or electronic equipment.
2.Detect/verb: discover or identify the presence or existence of.
3.Existence/noun: the fact or state of living or having objective reality.
4.Snoop/verb: investigate or look around furtively in an attempt to find out something, especially information about someone's private affairs.
5.Identity/noun: the fact of being who or what a person or thing is.
6.Enforcement/noun: the act of compelling observance of or compliance with a law, rule, or obligation.
7.Malicious/adjective: characterized by malice; intending or intended to do harm.
8.Anomalous/adjective: deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected.
9.Specify/verb: Identify clearly and definitely.
10.Malicious/adjective: characterized by malice; intending or intended to do harm.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. The first paragraph of a news article should answer the questions who, what, where and when. List the who, what, where and when of this news item. (NOTE: The remainder of a news article provides details on the why and/or how.)
2. What are the mobile snooping devices called?
3. What do the devices do?
4. a) What is the NPPD? What is its goal?
b) Who does the NPPD think is responsible for the rogue devices?
5. What information did DHS officials decline to give?
