SS7 or Signalling System Number 7: Billions of mobile phone users are at risk due to a vulnerability in the global network SS7 protocol, which allows hackers and spies (see NSA) to track positions and intercept all voice calls from anywhere in the world.
Of course, we already know from Snowden's reports that the US National Security Service (NSA) has the potential to gather nearly 5 bisectos per day on mobile phone locations around the world. But, the new news makes things much worse.
The famous Australian Ross Coulthart in his TV program "60 Minutes" he proved that it is possible for anyone to track the location of a mobile phone and to intercept calls and text messages.
This time, it's not due to a security vulnerability in the phone's operating system, but a serious flaw in the system itself that the cell phones our phones to communicate with each other around the world. The global signaling system, called SS7.
SS7 or Signaling System Number 7 (7 Numbering System) is a protocol suite that is used by most telecom operators around the world to communicate with each other when directing calls, texts and data to the Internet.
SS7 allows cell phone companies to collect information about the location of telephones from cellular antennas and share the data with others. This means that a US company will find its customer, no matter if he or she travels to any other country.
Successful exploitation of the bug in SS7 could allow attackers to hear all your voice calls as well as track your exact GPS position.
This technique is commonly known as the "Man-in-the-middle" (MITM) attack where hackers steal data from the Internet without obstructing their way to the recipient.
In addition to tracking mobile phone users' location and calls, the vulnerability also allows hackers to intercept SMS verification messages used for banking applications.
In the show 60 Minutes the presenter shows how a German hacker from Berlin records the presenter's mobile phone conversation while in London with the Australian senator Nick Xenophon (Obviously of Greek origin). They were also able to geo-track the senator when he traveled to Japan on business, mapping his movements around the Tokio and Narita from the mobile phone antennas (with a deviation of a few hundred metres), as well as around the roads of South Australia when he returned to Australia.
His moves were followed by Germany, which is thousands of kilometers away.
Because the SS7 network is used around the world, vulnerability puts billions of mobile phone users at risk.
Unfortunately, there is no solution yet, so cracks in the SS7 protocol will continue to be present even if your company upgrades your phone to more advanced technology.
