Interception of FBI conversations using Google Maps
Network engineer Bryan Seely is tired of heavy spam on Google Maps. He repeatedly turned to Google with a request to improve the moderation of ads, and even opened a Twitter account with the publication of examples , but to no avail. Then the resourceful engineer came up with a way to attract attention.
He posted a few fake ads on Google Maps, listing the addresses of the FBI and the US Secret Service, but his own phone numbers. When people called these numbers, Brian directed the call to the real numbers of the special services — and included an audio recording.
Writing a couple of conversations to prove ( 1 , 2 ), he went with them to the local branch of the Secret Service. The agents met the “spy” with a cordial welcome: they put him on the floor, face down, read the rights and took him to the interrogation room. However, he managed to explain to the special services that he was on their side. In an e-mail correspondence, one of the agents even called him a “hero” for revealing serious vulnerabilities. A few hours later, Brian was released.
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The problem with fake ads on Google Maps has existed for at least four years. Spammers earn by selling "promoted" places that go to the first lines of the search queries based on the location of the user. Some simply post ads for fun.
After this story, Google responded quickly and removed some of the fake ads, although in fact the problem remained.
Well, Brian deleted the fake Secret Service office from the maps on his own, at the request of the special services, by taking a screenshot for the memory.
He posted a few fake ads on Google Maps, listing the addresses of the FBI and the US Secret Service, but his own phone numbers. When people called these numbers, Brian directed the call to the real numbers of the special services — and included an audio recording.
Writing a couple of conversations to prove ( 1 , 2 ), he went with them to the local branch of the Secret Service. The agents met the “spy” with a cordial welcome: they put him on the floor, face down, read the rights and took him to the interrogation room. However, he managed to explain to the special services that he was on their side. In an e-mail correspondence, one of the agents even called him a “hero” for revealing serious vulnerabilities. A few hours later, Brian was released.
')
The problem with fake ads on Google Maps has existed for at least four years. Spammers earn by selling "promoted" places that go to the first lines of the search queries based on the location of the user. Some simply post ads for fun.
After this story, Google responded quickly and removed some of the fake ads, although in fact the problem remained.
Well, Brian deleted the fake Secret Service office from the maps on his own, at the request of the special services, by taking a screenshot for the memory.
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/214617/
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