An investigation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has uncovered the potential use of sophisticated cell phone surveillance devices in sensitive areas around Washington DC, including near the White House. According to a letter sent May 22 to Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon Democrat, by Christopher Krebs, the acting head of the DHS National Protection and Programs Directorate, the investigation found “anomalous activity that appeared consistent with IMSI catcher technology”.
International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers, also known as Stingray devices, work by mimicking phone towers, which allows the devices to intercept calls, texts, and data streams. Advanced IMSI catchers also have the ability to alter communications.
Federal officials made the discovery while conducting a pilot project from January to November of 2017 meant to identify and investigate activity around the nation’s capital involving the surveillance tools. It’s not clear who may have operated the devices, but it’s possible they belonged to a foreign adversary. Investigations were subsequently launched by law enforcement and counterintelligence agencies.
Reports have emerged that President Trump has been using a private cell phone for calls with certain advisers and lawmakers. Using a private cell phone could make his communications more susceptible to hacking. A Stingray device placed in the right location could intercept those communications without detection. A senior White House official said last month, “The White House is confident in the security protocols in place for the president’s use of communications devices.”
Sen. Wyden has long called for the Federal Communications Commission to do more to protect the communications of Americans. He recently tweeted, “The FCC can & should conduct an independent assessment of the security of US phone networks, identity which networks are lagging behind, & then force those companies to up their security.”
