US finds evidence of use of fake cell towers around Washington DC

The US Department of Homeland Security has found evidence of the use of fake cell towers, also known as imsi-catchers, around the capital Washington DC It does not know who is responsible.

Homeland Security writes in a document published by the Associated Press that it has identified “unusual activity” around the city. This activity would correspond to the use of fake cell towers. The ministry says it does not know who is responsible for its deployment and “has not been able to trace the activity to specific entities or devices”. It published the document answering questions from Senator Ron Wyden. He wanted to know whether foreign intelligence agencies are deploying fake cell towers in the US.

Although the ministry cannot designate a person responsible, it does believe that the use of imsi-catchers by foreign powers threatens the national and economic security of the US. When asked whether the ministry is currently able to detect the use of such devices, it replies that it is currently not aware of such a possibility, even when it comes to 4G variants.

In an additional document, the ministry writes that, according to the American regulator FCC, since 2011 fake cell towers may only be purchased by security and investigation services after consultation with the FBI. In it, it also states that it believes that “the malicious use of fake cell towers is an existing and growing risk.” Imsi catchers make it possible to intercept communications from mobile devices that connect to it. According to AP, such a device costs between 1000 and 200,000 dollars and has the minimum size of a smartphone.