and there GSM goes out of the window

[Skybird]

The specialists of Chaos Computer Club Hamburg have struck again: most popular cellphone encryption mechanism cracked and published

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8429233.stm

The work could allow anyone - including criminals - to eavesdrop on private phone conversations.
(...)
It has previously been possible to decrypt GSM signals to listen in on conversations, but the equipment cost "hundreds of thousands of dollars," experts said.

According to Ian Meakin, of mobile encryption firm Cellcrypt, only government agencies and "well funded" criminals had access to the necessary technology.

He described Mr Nohl's work as a "massive worry".

The man has consulted lawyers before starting, he says, and in Germany his attempt, meant to point out weaknesses in the system, are considered to be legal. Of course, the affected companies yell "illegal!" and "look what he's done!", because he exposes their work and product as inadequate.

Consumer should be thankful, for it masively mounts pressure on a debate about the standard which has seen it's first security holes revelaed already 15 years ago.

I personally hate cellphones, if not used for emergency purposes (where there value cannot be argued). And this story will not make me loving them more.

[XabbaRus]

I think you are jumping the gun a bit.

The code was decrypted using brute force method and requires potential eavesdroppers to use a table of trillions of combinations tto find the right key.

Also I get the feeling you almost approve of this. I don't see what you have against mobile phones? I have one and am not a text junkie or on it all the time but it is useful tomake the quick call to the wife to say I'm whereever I need to be safely or even something as mundane to quickly check with the wife if there is anything extra we need whilst I'm in the supermarket.

[Skybird]

This crack now just adds to my principle dislike for cellphones in general, Xabba.

Different from emergency situation, I do not like to be available for everybody, even for strangers, no matter where I am. I do not jump straight up just because the telephone rings, and I do not carry a cellphone with me when doing a walk in the woods, or being in town, o visiting somebody. Because on all these opportunities I do not wish to be available for soembody just becasue he presses a button. Hell, when I do not want, I even do not answer the wired telephone at home. I also do not like foreign people's cellphone ringing at the most inappropriate opportunities in public, in cafes, I do not like the strange priorities people then sometimes reveal (doing the call much more imortant than dealing with their real life situation at hand - paying at the cash desk, for example). And finally I just can shake my head about the stupid nonsense many people (especially women) make calls for, when you overhear the conversation.

And last, if I want to have a good talking with a friend, I certainly do not do it, and do not want him to do in passing. It's not a compliment if your "friends" deal with you that way. I still kn ow a time where freinds were worthy enoiugh that you invested the time to sit down and write a letter and choose your words not before hvaing spend some thought on them.

Finally there is the social cult made of cellphones. Always to have the latest, the newest, the coolest... People sit down in public places, and first thing they do is poutting their phones on the table hahaha. It's seems to silly to me.

Currently there are just three people who have my cellphone number. It's prepaid, of course.

[XabbaRus]

While I agree with you on many points there I don't see why that is reason to hate them.

If I don't want to answer my mobile I don't. If I am at work I will ignore it and phone later.

True I don't get why people need to have the latest.

Now what I do hate is the blackberry thing where you are you can't get away from work either.

Skybird is a centralist compared to me.

I won't have a cell phone, at all.
There's nothing like watch idiots behind the wheel, and noticing that almost all of them are playing with their phones.
Or the idiot that appears to be talking to him/herself in public, loud enough to be heard in the next city . . . without the phone.
The world is suddenly full of idiots on these things.
They can't go to the toilet alone without their cell.

The ringer is off on my regular phone too.

If I call a business and get transferred to "voice mail"/answering machine that tells me to leave my name and number, that business looses my business, on the spot.

[jimbob]

And there's the Power button. I turn it off if I don't want to be reached.
Also, in weekends its off atleast the night times. Some Kaleuns thinks its funny to call and ask "Hows the pillow" some times.

It remains to see if we get any ill effects on this hack.
Too early to say.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by jimbob

Some Kaleuns thinks its funny to call and ask "Hows the pillow" some times.

LMAO!

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by jimbob

It remains to see if we get any ill effects on this hack.
Too early to say.

Really? I only say: Business espionage. Telephone banking. VIPs, celebs, politicians - and the yellow press.

All of the outputs are now detailed in a vast table, which can be used to determine the encryption key used to secure the conversation or text message.
"It's like a telephone book - if someone tells you a name you can look up their number," he said.
Using the codebook, a "beefy gaming computer and $3,000 worth of radio equipment" would allow anyone to decrypt signals from the billions of GSM users around the world, he said.
Signals could be decrypted in "real time" with $30,000 worth of equipment, Mr Nohl added.

I also do not like foreign people's cellphone ringing

Are they somehow worse than a locals cellphone?

[XabbaRus]

I must admit I hate it seeing people trying to use a mobile and drive and yes the idiot walking down the street on a hands free.

Why do they feel the need to shout. My phone is on silent mode most of the time so I only pick it up when it is either vibrating in my pocket or trying to hump the table.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by XabbaRus

I must admit I hate it seeing people trying to use a mobile and drive and yes the idiot walking down the street on a hands free.

Why do they feel the need to shout. My phone is on silent mode most of the time so I only pick it up when it is either vibrating in my pocket or trying to hump the table.

I like to see the look on their face when it's explained to them they can pay the £60 ticket within the given period or contest it and risk a £1,000 fine in court...

[Platapus]

I have a cell phone that stays in my car. I have only three numbers on it and if it rings and I don't recognize the name, I don't answer it. It is for emergency only.

I look around at all the people constantly on the cell phone and I have to wonder, are these people really that important or is this simply a case of using a cell phone as a social crutch?

I can't think of any person or group of people that I want to talk to that much. (honestly, I don't think there is a single person or groups of people who would want to talk to me either)

The Frau tells me that she sometimes just calls people up when she is stuck in traffic. WTF? you interrupt other people's day because you are stuck in traffic and bored???

I just don't get it.

[Platapus]

Has this happened to anyone here?

You are standing in some store line and you hear the person next to you say "Hi there, How are you doing?"

Being a human, you turn to them and answer them, only to find that they are talking on some ear piece.

And they have the nerve to give you "the look".

I swear one of these days a human will actually be trying to engage me in a human conversation and I will ignore them, assuming that they are talking into their ear. That person will probably think "Boy what a rude jerk. Won't even answer me."

Sigh, sometimes you just can't win.

@ Platipus

Yes!

[XabbaRus]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

I like to see the look on their face when it's explained to them they can pay the £60 ticket within the given period or contest it and risk a £1,000 fine in court...

Jim I see too many getting away with it, though I do toot my horn at some, that is if there are no other cars or pedestrians around as they jump a bit sometimes. I don't give a monkeys if they give me the finger.

I personally think that all cars should come equipped with a phone blocker rather than a bluetooth phone connector.