In the Canadian airport discovered devices to spy on smartphones

Image: Jorge Díaz , Flickr

An investigation into Radio-Canada reporters revealed the use of specialized spyware (IMSI-catcher) at Pierre Elliot Trudeau Airport in Montreal. Previously, journalists found the same device in close proximity to the Canadian parliament and foreign embassies in Ottawa.
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The devices, which are also called StingRay, impersonate mobile base stations - smartphones connect to it, which allows attackers to obtain data on the unique telephone identifiers (IMSI).

Journalists managed to detect such “ IMSI catchers ” with the help of CryptoPhone - this is a special device that notifies the user about attempts by fake base stations to catch the signal of a smartphone. Several such attempts were recorded in the part of the airport, where landing on flights to the United States.



Spy base station scan

Experts developer CryptoPhone, the company ESD America, analyzed detected by journalists attempts to intercept the signal. According to them, spy devices were used to track the smartphone, and they almost certainly made it possible to listen in on real-time conversations.

Journalists could not establish who exactly installed the devices for intercepting IMSI at the airport. Representatives of the Canadian police and special services refused to discuss the methods of collecting information used by them. The US Embassy also declined to comment. The management company of the airport Aéroports de Montréal stated that it does not use IMSI catchers.

With the development of technology, many legends, myths and rumors have appeared on the Internet about the threats posed by the use of mobile phones.

On Thursday, April 13 at 2:00 pm , Positive Technologies experts Dmitry Kasimov and Kirill Puzankov will hold a webinar, during which some myths will be proved and refuted. Is it possible to track a switched off phone, or are robbers in films just hostages of technical illiteracy? Is it true that attackers can intercept SMS from anywhere in the world? Is it possible to teleport from the center of Moscow to Vnukovo and who needs it?

The webinar will be of interest to a wide range of listeners and does not require special training or education in IT. Participation is free, you can register via the link: www.ptsecurity.com/ru-ru/research/webinar/218832/