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Obama's BlackBerry brings personal safety risks(electronic bull's eye)
CNET ^ | 02/12/09 | Chris Soghoian

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 ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: blackberry; location; obama; security
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To: yoe

Good summary of our 0 problem


41 posted on 02/13/2009 10:04:06 AM PST by dennisw (Archimedes--- Give me a place to stand, and I will move the Earth)
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To: anniegetyourgun

Thanks for the non answer.

What exactly do you mean or read?


42 posted on 02/13/2009 10:04:11 AM PST by garyhope (.)
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To: yoe
Zero's arrogance is going to be the means to the (his) end - one way or another. . .
43 posted on 02/13/2009 10:06:10 AM PST by ninergold3 ("Has it ever occurred to you that nothing occurs to God?" -Mark Lowry)
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To: burroak

All blackberry models like Obama has have gps. His was most likely altered to fix that security concern. But the other concern remains- O-dummy’s un- accountability.
He should not be allowed to have private conversations with who knows who. We should know who he’s paying off and making deals with.


44 posted on 02/13/2009 10:09:10 AM PST by Nathan Zachary
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To: TigerLikesRooster

He uses it to get instructions on how to do the job.


45 posted on 02/13/2009 10:22:57 AM PST by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

“...the real threat: attacks against President Obama’s location privacy...”

And that is bad news?


46 posted on 02/13/2009 10:23:22 AM PST by GatĂșn(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

If his blackberry is on, it can be absolutely pinpointed, assuming he has service. And it has nothing to do with GPS.


47 posted on 02/13/2009 10:24:24 AM PST by RobRoy (Islam is a greater threat to the world today than Nazism was in the 1930's.)
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To: anniegetyourgun

Not unless Iran or someone nukes D.C.


48 posted on 02/13/2009 10:26:57 AM PST by Cementjungle
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To: TigerLikesRooster
Ahhmm Barrack......

Incoming text from Amadenijad.......

49 posted on 02/13/2009 10:29:29 AM PST by PSYCHO-FREEP (WHAT? Where did my tag line go? (ACORN))
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To: Centurion2000

Yeah, but I probably won’t be around to collect.


50 posted on 02/13/2009 10:30:34 AM PST by anniegetyourgun
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To: Nathan Zachary

To think that a President has to be attached to a Blackberry as slavishly as he, is disturbing on many levels:
Micro manager
Michelle’s leash
Soros’ leash
Rahm’s leash

Who does he have to be in constant touch with? He needs to answer that question.
I’m beginning to think he is a puppet president in every sense of the word.


51 posted on 02/13/2009 12:35:10 PM PST by burroak
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To: Centurion2000
There are 2 reasons his security should be assured. #1 Joe Biden #2 Nancy Pilosi (I don't even want to correct the spelling) I think #3 is senator Bryd. That is the line of succession to the Presidency..
52 posted on 02/13/2009 12:51:06 PM PST by goat granny
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To: goat granny
There are 2 reasons his security should be assured. #1 Joe Biden #2 Nancy Pilosi (I don't even want to correct the spelling) I think #3 is senator Bryd. That is the line of succession to the Presidency..

A pox upon all their houses.

53 posted on 02/13/2009 1:03:42 PM PST by Centurion2000 (01-20-2009 : The end of the PAX AMERICANA.)
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To: Secret Agent Man
You do really need to digest the fact that criticizing someone’s personal choice is NOT ‘interfering’ with a personal choice.

Following my nice nap with catz, I just want to say that I absolutely agree with you about this, and I can understand why you'd jump on me when you thought that's what I was saying.

54 posted on 02/13/2009 1:13:32 PM PST by Tax-chick ("Global leadership means never having to say you're sorry." ~IBD)
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To: Tax-chick

Well, I need to be lighter on you today, I am not getting a good read on what you’ve been posting today. I didn’t even realize you posted this until I saw the reply. (I tend not to keep track of all the different people I post to.)


55 posted on 02/13/2009 1:25:18 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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To: Secret Agent Man

It’s Friday. Have a Guinness and give yourself a break! Get some Girl Scout cookies.


56 posted on 02/13/2009 1:27:27 PM PST by Tax-chick ("Global leadership means never having to say you're sorry." ~IBD)
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To: Cementjungle
As long as this guy is running loose, Obama's as safe as any President could ever be.


57 posted on 02/13/2009 1:59:08 PM PST by Deo volente (High Noon, January 20, 2009: Our long national nightmare begins.)
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