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FarCenter

(19,429 posts)

27. 'Stingray' Phone Tracker Fuels Constitutional Clash

Reply to Poll_Blind (Original post)

Mon Dec 9, 2013, 11:39 AM

Dec 2013

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424053111904194604576583112723197574

This is an older Wall Street Journal article that has a good description of how the Harris Stingray works.

A cell phone has a signaling channel that it uses to register with the local cell site and its local mobile switching center. It actually registers with the Visitors Location Register, and then in turn is registered with the Home Location Register of the carrier that you got the phone from. Much of the information carried over the signaling channel is unencrypted, and anyone with an appropriate radio receiver and decoding equipment can track the location of cellphone handsets.

It is more complex and may require the assistance of the local carrier for the test set to be able to do a man-in-the-middle intercept of both the signaling and the data/voice channels in order to obtain all of the call details and the data/voice content of a given connection.

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Highlight:

Fucking scary: Indiana State Police tracking cellphones - but won't say how or why [View all] Poll_Blind Dec 2013 OP

Not just scary... defacto7 Dec 2013 #1

Why I call my cell my own tracking device nadinbrzezinski Dec 2013 #2

I wonder if they can remotely turn on the mic and camera too, with it still looking 'asleep'. Electric Monk Dec 2013 #22

When police forces are WAY overfunded Blue_Tires Dec 2013 #3

I live in this screwed-up state. Brigid Dec 2013 #4

Only if you remove the battery. RC Dec 2013 #11

Some cell phones wont allow you to remove the battery darkangel218 Dec 2013 #26

Well, there is always the hammer... RC Dec 2013 #28

lol! darkangel218 Dec 2013 #29

People in Indiana have cell phones? Whoda thunk... madinmaryland Dec 2013 #5

Yes, we do. Brigid Dec 2013 #12

Why wouldn't we? SaltyBro Dec 2013 #24

The name is misleading. He's actually madinohio. KamaAina Dec 2013 #31

Let me guess, they think microwaves are harmless too. Coyotl Dec 2013 #6

Microwaves won't give you cancer. RC Dec 2013 #13

read this Coyotl Dec 2013 #33

I repeat Microwaves won't give you cancer. RC Dec 2013 #34

The device doesn't trick them hootinholler Dec 2013 #7

It mimics as a cell tower but I don't think they relay call, who knows these days...nt Jesus Malverde Dec 2013 #19

The next step in this arms race... JimboBillyBubbaBob Dec 2013 #8

Anyone know if these things are effective as protection? snot Dec 2013 #9

In a word, no GETPLANING Dec 2013 #10

iPhone batteries aren't removable Silent3 Dec 2013 #15

This state is so fucked up when it comes to law enforcement NuclearDem Dec 2013 #14

It's the whole country, not just Indiana. jsr Dec 2013 #16

They will begin using these systems more and more Th1onein Dec 2013 #17

The obvious purpose is for political surveillance. Jesus Malverde Dec 2013 #18

"If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear" davidn3600 Dec 2013 #20

If you know nothing, you have nothing to fear. Coyotl Dec 2013 #35

"Fighting terror" = Parking outside the lot at Deer Creek when Phish are playing Warren DeMontague Dec 2013 #21

I thought we were supposed to have a system of checks and balances... Vashta Nerada Dec 2013 #23

Kick for the morning crew! Poll_Blind Dec 2013 #25

'Stingray' Phone Tracker Fuels Constitutional Clash FarCenter Dec 2013 #27

From that article... countryjake Dec 2013 #30

Rochester, New York won't say if it purchased surveillance equipment Earth_First Dec 2013 #32