Posted on 02/13/2009 9:23:57 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster
Obama's BlackBerry brings personal safety risks
by Chris Soghoian
When the mainstream media first announced Barack Obama's "victory" in keeping his BlackBerry, the focus was on the security of the device, and keeping the U.S. president's e-mail communications private from spies and hackers.
The news coverage and analysis by armchair security experts thus far has failed to focus on the real threat: attacks against President Obama's location privacy, and the potential physical security risks that come with someone knowing the president's real-time physical location.
Serial numbers
Before we dive in, let's take a moment to note that each mobile phone has a unique serial number, known as an IMEI, or MEID. This unique number is transmitted in clear text, every time the phone communicates with a nearby cell tower. Thus, while the contents of a phone call or the data session (for e-mail) are usually encrypted, anyone with the right equipment can home in on a particular IMEI and identify the location of the source of that signal.
The most common device used to locate a phone by its IMEI is a "Triggerfish", a piece of equipment that is routinely used by law enforcement and intelligence agencies. This kind of device tricks nearby cell phones into transmitting their serial numbers and other information by impersonating a cell tower.
The devices, which are actually fairly low-tech, were used to hunt down famed hacker Kevin Mitnick back in the 1990s. Most interesting of all, according to Department of Justice documents, Triggerfish can be used to reveal a suspect's location "without the user knowing about it and without involving the cell phone provider."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.cnet.com ...
Cool... let’s subpoena all his emails.
And the myriad electronic devices his staff and security people have to have doesn’t give his position away?
Obama needs it to keep in touch with his drug suppliers and left wing handlers.
mich u r a fox gonna put gays in army xxxooo The One
This tech doesn’t give you a person’s location. It gives you the location of his phone. Big difference.
Even assuming the SS (poor choice of acronym) hasn’t thought of this and taken appropriate steps to modify O’s phone or spoof it to multiple locations.
He just needs it so he can check into Drudge’s latest headlines — has to be prepared for immediate damage control
He’s not in danger of bodily harm over the course of the next 4 years.
Okay. Who are we to interfere with his personal choices?
WE are not. WE are criticizing them. Further, THEY (the Secret Service) strongly advised dropping it because it is a potentially large securtiy risk. Which can put HIS life and the lives of those around him at a higher risk.
You do really need to digest the fact that criticizing someone’s personal choice is NOT ‘interfering’ with a personal choice.
And you know or believe this because of,..........?
Sigh. I was attempting sarcasm of a sort, but obviously failed to achieve it. This is usually a sign of naptime, so I’ll shut down the computer and go find my catz.
I read.
We will see the “smoking gun” to how our economy collapsed on that BlackBerry. God has a funny sense of humor and I bet we get to see these in just the right time.
Wanna bet?
If this is the truth, then we should make sure that he has a spare or two....you know.....just for “insurance”.
Sorry, I didn’t catch it. I am usually on the lookout for it, but we’ve had some people around here lately that say this stuff and mean it. You were a little more subtle than I normally have my radar tuned to.
My bad.
LOL
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