Hacker claims to have the key to GSM code
2010 might just be the year that the cellular phone calls become open to any hacker with the wherewithal to listen in. German hacker Karsten Nohl said this week that he has fulfilled his promise of cracking the GSM encryption code that protects phone calls from eavesdroppers while they traverse the airwaves. And while Nohl claims his publishing of the GSM codebook is purely academic, his project could significantly lower barriers for those with more malevolent intent.
IDG News’ Robert McMillian provides a good explanation of what exactly Nohl and his research team have done: cracking the 64-bit cipher called A5/A1 used to mask most GSM calls and SMS, Nohl has compiled a database of codes which can be used like a reverse phonebook to decrypt conversations and text messages. Using the codebook, antennas, some specialized software and about $30,000 worth of computing equipment, a hacker can crack a call in real-time, allowing him or her to listen in on live conversations. If that hacker is willing to wait a few minutes, a recorded call could be cracked in a few minutes using off-the-shelf computing equipment, according to Nohl.
The ability to listen in on cellular conversations isn’t new–it’s been available to law enforcement (and presumably criminals) for years–but the cost of the specialize equipment have made it prohibitive, according to PC World. Nohl’s codes make those capabilities available to just about anybody.
December 30th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Here’s yet another example of an individual placing his own gain (in terms of reputation and stature) ahead of the larger societal good. He publishes the codes making it easier for person of dishonourable intent to violate many others people privacy, supposedly out of “academic interest only”. What BS! What arrogance! What willful blindness! Mr. Nohl should be considered an accomplice to anyone using his published codes to commit criminal or damaging acts, and suffer the financial and legal consequences. Hiding behind the “my work can be used for good or evil… I’m not responsible for what other do with it” is plain self-serving willful disregard of others. If Mr. is as smart as he would like others to beleive, he should find a way to convince everyone he has accomplished his goal of cracking the codes withough actually making it easy for everone else.
December 30th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Here’s yet another example of an individual placing his own gain (in terms of reputation and stature) ahead of the larger societal good. He publishes secret codes making it easier for person of dishonourable intent to violate many other’s privacy, supposedly out of “academic interest only”. What BS! What arrogance! What willful blindness! Mr. Nohl should be considered an accomplice to anyone using his published codes to commit criminal or damaging acts, and suffer the financial and legal consequences. Hiding behind the “my work can be used for good or evil… I’m not responsible for what others do with it” is plain self-serving willful disregard of others. If Mr. Nohl is as smart as he would like others to believe, he should find a way to convince everyone he has accomplished his goal of cracking the codes withough actually making it easier for the unscrupulous.
January 5th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
On the other hand, he has exposed to everyone how fragile their ‘privacy’ actually is, and for those that believe in ‘privacy’ they can take other means to insure theirs.
Good work!
January 5th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
So what are phone manufacturers going to do about it? Or my carrier? There has got to be a way for this to be stopped.
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