Legal Spying Via the Cell Phone System 139
An anonymous reader writes "Two researchers say they have found a way to exploit weaknesses in the mobile telecom system to legally spy on people by figuring out the private cell phone number of anyone they want, tracking their whereabouts, and listening to their voice mail."
Legal? What about the new caller ID law... (Score:4, Interesting)
Foot meet bullet. (Score:4, Interesting)
I get mailed revised TOS and privacy policies from companies on a weekly basis. Now that this is publicized, how long will it stay 'legal'? Usually, loudly exclaiming "nener-nener-boo-boo you can't catch me" to one of the largest, consumer unfriendly, profit motivated industries gets their attention.
Re:remove battery? (Score:1, Interesting)
If it's off for the purposes of an airline, (that is, radio off in order prevent interference), then it's off for the purposes of this, since it depends on the phone communicating with the cell tower.
it's not the headline that's bad. (Score:5, Interesting)
With the ability to read the constitution - and reason above a third grade level - it is 100% clear that spying on a US citizen's communications without probable cause AND a warrant is not an authorized power for the US government or a US state. It is also doubtful that there exists, or can exist with constitution as currently constructed, a justification for a private citizen exercising such a power.