Hacker-run GSM network

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Randall <rvh40 () insightbb com>
Date: August 17, 2009 7:28:14 AM EDT
To: johnmacsgroup () yahoogroups com, Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne () warpspeed com 
>, David Farber <dave () farber net>
Subject: Hacker-run GSM network

[[From the Telecom Digest]]

From: Thad Floryan <thad () DELETED com>
To: moder8 () telecom csail mit edu
Subject: Hacker-run GSM networks are coming [Telecom]
Message-ID: <4A88B360.7020506 () thadlabs com>

I have mixed emotions when I read something like the following
which appeared on Slashdot earlier today, especially given the
known GSM interference problems.

However, this is telephony and this is news (from Slashdot):

Harald Welte, who's been interviewed previously by Slashdot,
has written on his blog about operating an Open Source GSM
network:

<http://laforge.gnumonks.org/weblog/2009/08/14/#20090814-har2009_gsm_network 
>

at the recent HAR2009 conference:

<https://wiki.har2009.org/page/Main_Page>

Photographs and a description and of the setup, run under
license of the Dutch regulatory authority, are provided;
essentially the setup consisted of a pair of BTSs (Base
Transceiver Stations) running at 100mW transmit power each
and tied to a tree. In turn these provided access to the
Base Station Controller (BSC), in this case a Linux server
in a tent running OpenBSC:

<http://bs11-abis.gnumonks.org/trac/wiki/OpenBSC>

The system authenticated users with a token sent via SMS;
in total 391 users subscribed to the service and were able
to use their phones as if they were on any other network.

Independent researchers are increasingly examining GSM
networks and equipment, Welte's work proves that GSM is
in the realm of the hackers now and that this realm of
mobile networking could be set for a few surprises in
the future.

[ We need to keep an eye on this; "a few surprises" could mean
 many different things :-) ]

--
The war on privilege will never end. Its next great campaign will be  
against the privileges of the underprivileged. H. L. Mencken





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