U.S. Spies on Millions of Cars. Fake Cell Towers Allow the NSA and Police to Keep Track of You. The Internet is abuzz with reports of mysterious devices sprinkled across America—many of them on military bases—that connect to your phone by mimicking cell phone towers and sucking up your data. There is little public information about these devices, but they are the new favorite toy of government agencies of all stripes; everyone from the National Security Agency to local police forces are using them. These fake towers, known as “interceptors,” were discovered in July by users of the CryptoPhone500, one of the ultra-secure cell phones released after Edward Snowden’s leaks about NSA snooping. The phone is essentially a Samsung Galaxy S3 customized with high-level encryption that costs around $3,500.
Newsweek Magazine is Back In Print Map showing the location of rogue cell towers identified by the firewall on CryptoPhones in August via ESD America, a defense and law enforcement technology provider based in Las Vegas. This NSA-style surveillance is spreading to local cops. Mystery Solved: The Truth About 'Fake Cellphone Towers' Wi-Fi Spy Grid 'Deactivated' SPD admit mesh network was never turned off after DHS testing phase Paul Joseph Watson Infowars.com November 13, 2013 Following a privacy outcry concerning a wi-fi “mesh network” being installed in Seattle with DHS funding that has the capability of recording the last 1,000 locations of anyone in its vicinity, the Seattle Police Department announced last night that it is temporarily deactivating the network. Image: City of Seattle. As we highlighted yesterday, the $2.7 million dollar system, a series of white wi-fi boxes affixed to utility poles with which authorities had planned to blanket the entire city, can track cellphones even if they are not connected to the network.
The system can also collect a mobile user’s IP address, mobile device type, apps used, current location and even historical locations. “The wireless mesh network will be deactivated until city council approves a draft policy and until there’s an opportunity for vigorous public debate,” SPD spokesperson Sgt. Gov. Machines that steal your phone’s data. Wireless network tracks civilians | Seattle police. In February, the Seattle Police Department announced it bought what's called a "mesh network," that will be used as a dedicated wireless network for emergency responders. What SPD did not say is that the network is capable of tracking anyone with a device that has a Wi-Fi connection.
"They now own a piece of equipment that has tracking capabilities so we think that they should be going to City Council and presenting a protocol for the whole network that says they won't be using it for surveillance purposes," said Jamela Debelak of the American Civil Liberties Union. A spokesperson for Seattle Police said the network is not being used right now. A draft policy is being reviewed by the city attorney's office and will eventually go before the City Council. The network includes 160 wireless access points that are mounted on poles across Seattle. This information can be stored and connected for the last 1,000 times a person is connected with a specific device.