THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT has been fighting hard for years hide details about its use of so-called stingray surveillance technology from the public.

 

The surveillance devices simulate cell phone towers in order to trick nearby mobile phones into connecting to them and revealing the phones’ locations.

 

Now newly released documents confirm long-held suspicions that the controversial devices are also capable of recording numbers for a mobile phone’s incoming and outgoing calls, as well as intercepting the content of voice and text communications. The documents also discuss the possibility of flashing a phone’s firmware “so that you can intercept conversations using a suspect’s cell phone as a bug.”

 

Local law enforcement agencies have used the equipmentnumerous times in secret without obtaining a warrant and have even deceived courts about the nature of the technology to obtain orders to use it. And they’ve resorted to extreme measures to prevent groups like the ACLU from obtaining documents about the technology.

 

Stingrays go by a number of different names, including cell-site simulator, triggerfish, IMSI-catcher, Wolfpack, Gossamer, and swamp box, according to the documents. They can be used to determine the location of phones, computers using open wireless networks, and PC wireless data cards, also known as air cards.

 

The devices, generally the size of a suitcase, work by emitting a stronger signal than nearby towers in order to force a phone or mobile device to connect to them instead of a legitimate tower. Once a mobile devices connects, the phone reveals its unique device ID, after which the stingray releases the device so that it can connect to a legitimate cell tower, allowing data and voice calls to go through. Assistance from a cell phone carrier isn’t required to use the technology, unless law enforcement doesn’t know the general location of a suspect and needs to pinpoint a geographical area in which to deploy the stingray. Once a phone’s general location is determined, investigators can use a handheld device that provides more pinpoint precision in the location of a phone or mobile device—this includes being able to pinpoint an exact office or apartment where the device is being used.

 

Turns Out Police Stingray Spy Tools Can Indeed Record Calls | WIRED

One day in the not too distant future we will all be looking back in disbelief on all the ways the government secretly spied on all of us.

One day in the not too distant future we will all be looking back in disbelief on all the ways the government secretly spied on all of us.

 

There is no doubt in my mind they have the ability to listen in on us at any point when they want (with or without our cell phones). It's scary, I'm not sure what we can do about it.

Can't wait for someone to put this on Rand Paul's desk.

Can't wait for someone to put this on Rand Paul's desk.

 

And everyone will ignore him like usual.