Hack a GSM Network with a $15 Phone, Laptop, and Open Source Software.

We’ve heard tales of GSM’s rather weak security many times before. But the big kicker with such stories was that it was incredibly expensive to purchase all the required hardware and software. But at the recent Chaos Computer Club (CCC) Congress), a small group of researchers were able to crack GSM transmission with nothing more than (4) sub-$15 phones, a laptop, some open source software, and programming skills.

The short version of the story goes like this: It’s far cheaper and faster to hack GSM devices in 2010 and beyond, though most of the security holes can be strengthened considerably. Simple things like randomizing “buffer bytes” (“Are you there” messages GSM networks constantly send to track devices) and stronger encryption would go a long way towards safer, more secure GSM networks.

Knowing the amount of secure transactions and conversations carried out over GSM as well as the pathetic security isn’t very reassuring. But hold off wide scale panic for now. First, check out the full article over at Wired before jumping to conclusions.

Source: WiredVia: BoingBoing

Tags: GSM Hacking