- A massive communications network was uncovered in New York
- The network is made of 300 servers containing 100,000 SIM cards
- Only part of the network was implemented, with more equipment discovered ready to be added to the network
The US Secret Service has revealed and dismantled a telecommunications network in New York, which may have been used by organized criminals to communicate with foreign state -sponsored actors.
The huge network consisted of over 300 servers that housed a combined 100,000 SIM card, and allegedly had the potential to disrupt telephone networks over the Tristate area and lighten encrypted communication.
The United Nations General Assembly is currently ongoing in New York, and Secret Service has suggested that the network could have been used “to implement more telecommunications -related threats aimed at senior US government officials.”
Advanced threat interdiction device
The 300 Samplan servers were all within 35 miles of the United Nations and could have been involved in “disabling mobile font towers, enabling the denial of services attacks and facilitated anonymous, encrypted communication between potential threat players and criminal companies.”
A study is currently underway and is conducted by Secret Service’s new Advanced Threat Interdiction Unit, which is “dedicated to disturbing the most significant and impending threats to our protections.”
While the network included 100,000 active SIM cards used in encrypted communication, Secret Service also said there were many more waiting to be implemented.
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Matt McCool, specialist in charge of Secret Service’s New York Field Office said: “It can’t be underestimated what this system is capable of doing. It can take down cell towers, so can people no longer communicate, right? [the UN general assembly]Do you know, use your imagination there – it can be disastrous for the city. “
Secret Service has investigated threats to older US officials from telecommunications networks, which led to the discovery of the SIM Cache network.
Several US officials have been targeted at imitation and ‘Smishing’ attacks in recent months.
The SIM cards are analyzed for phone calls and text messages, with the network capable of sending up to 30 million messages in a single minute, said McCool, saying the network was very organized and would have cost millions of dollars to construct.
“The potential for disruption of our country’s telecommunications, designated by this network of devices, cannot be exaggerated,” added Sean Curran, director of Secret Service.
“The US Secret Service’s protective mission is about prevention, and this study makes it clear to potential bad actors that impending threats against our protectors will be investigated, traced, and wound up.”
