and there GSM goes out of the window

Skybird · 12-29-09, 05:52 PM

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

Quote:

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 · 12-29-09, 07:03 PM

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 · 12-29-09, 08:03 PM

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 · 12-29-09, 08:39 PM

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.

12-30-09, 04:51 AM

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 · 12-30-09, 05:10 AM

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.

12-29-09, 07:03 PM	#2
XabbaRus Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 5,330 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	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. __________________

12-29-09, 08:03 PM	#3
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,602 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

12-29-09, 08:39 PM	#4
XabbaRus Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 5,330 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	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. __________________

12-30-09, 04:51 AM	#5
Snestorm Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	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.

12-30-09, 05:10 AM	#6
jimbob Ensign Join Date: May 2005 Location: Suomi Finland Posts: 225 Downloads: 365 Uploads: 6	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.