GCHQ & NSA hacked SIM manufacturer to get keys to decrypt calls
Everything Goes
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GCHQ & NSA hacked the worlds largest SIM manufacturer Gemalto to get keys to decrypt calls according to Edward Snowden.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/02/19/nsa_and_gchq_hacked_worlds_largest_sim_card_company_to_steal_keys_to_kingdom/
The target for the team was the unique Ki encryption keys baked into each of Gemalto's SIM cards. These 128-bit values are hidden away inside the SIM electronics, and are supposed to be kept secret. Every SIM has one, regardless of its manufacturer.
Mobile networks keep a copy of a SIM's Ki key before the card is given to a subscriber. This is so that the carrier can identify and authenticate the device containing the SIM when it joins a network.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/02/19/nsa_and_gchq_hacked_worlds_largest_sim_card_company_to_steal_keys_to_kingdom/
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Having said that... I've nothing to hide, so I'm not fussed...
The main problem is giving people in power the tools of tyranny. While you may be happy with the present government it can only takes one power crazy loon for things to turn nasty. Germany was once a peaceful nation and look what happened.
Martin Niemöller
I said already they should be held to account
your problem is so important as a security purpose.so it is very necessary to keep keep our data from unauthorized user , so there are many techniques are available at current time.The GPS tracker are also provide a facility by which we secure our data because it is inform us by sms alert.
I'd be more worried about spoof cell sites & retail mobile tracking tbh.
Plus there's always the danger of 'mission creep' where at some point in the future the data can be misused by the powers that be for originally unintended reasons.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-31545050
Sure, you have nothing to hide. Care to post your bank account details here then? Or your medical records? Or who you vote for?
Why not let the state put cameras in all our homes? Nothing to hide, nothing to fear.
Funny that the state thinks that is has a right to secrecy that it thinks we do not.
The Tories are vile slime.
If the security services want my details then I'm happy to give them, all they have to do is ask, provide a good reason & I'll comply..
Might save them a few minutes, days or hours looking at me & actually look at someone worthwhile
As I've said at least twice.. The tactics they have used to get our details need to be looked into / prosecuted ...
Agreed, I've got nothing to hide but I still don't like the idea of big brother 'protecting us' by stealth and spying on us in every conceivable way. I'm sure they'll prove it's for the good by showing that it has stopped terrorism acts but where do you draw the line? and I think that line was crossed a long time ago.
So does this mean that GCHQ weren't able to easily access mobile phones by hacking techniques? and stealing the keys was much simpler than breaking the encryption (that I thought they could already break!)
I understand GSM is pretty much blown open (especially if the network operator chooses to use insecure ciphers) but UMTS/LTE aren't
http://www.theverge.com/2015/2/24/8101585/the-nsas-sim-heist-could-have-given-it-the-power-to-plant-spyware-on
http://www.engadget.com/2015/02/25/gemalto-nsa-gchq-attacks/