The Guardian page cites the report of telecommunications security expert Gary Miller said China has used cell phone networks in the Caribbean to spy on users' phones in the US. This is part of Beijing's large-scale intelligence gathering campaign...
The attacks on cell phones allow China to track and interfere with the communications of subscribers to US mobile services, according to the Guardian.
Large-scale reconnaissance
According to Gary Miller, China uses companies providing telecommunications services to send signaling messages to users in the US, usually when they are traveling.
Signaling messages are messages sent from global telecom operators and are anonymous to mobile phone users.
This texting allows companies to operate mobile phone locating services, connect mobile devices together and charge roaming charges. However, some signaling messages can be used for illegal purposes, such as monitoring, monitoring or interfering with communications.
"Government agencies and Congress have known about the fragility of public cellular networks for years. However, government security recommendations are not being followed by companies, even recommendations. not enough to stop the attacks, "Mr. Miller said.
The peak of reconnaissance attacks from China occurred in 2018. American experts say the majority of the attacks were conducted through a Chinese government-owned telecommunications service operator named China Unicom.
Since 2018, tens of thousands of US telecom service users have become Chinese spies, Miller said.
"When the number of targets reaches tens of thousands, the attack can be seen as large-scale reconnaissance, mainly for gathering intelligence, sometimes targeting sensitive high-value targets," he said. Miller said.
In some cases, phones were attacked simultaneously through China Unicom and service providers in the Caribbean such as Cable & Wireless Communications in Barbados and Telecommunications Company in the Bahamas.
Dozens of attacks occurred over a period of so unusual 4-8 weeks that Mr. Miller perceived it as a "clear and strong" indication of planned attacks.
In 2019, the attacks targeting 3G network users in the US are mainly through Cable & Wireless Communications in Barbados. Meanwhile, the number of cyber attacks provided by the Chinese company decreased.
"China is reducing the number of attacks in 2019, focusing on focused surveillance, using proxy networks in the Caribbean to infiltrate," Mr. Miller said.
James Lewis, director of the Strategic Technology Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said China's large-scale phone reconnaissance plot "is just another example of an intelligence campaign. sophisticated and drastic ".
Chinese response
It is not clear whether telecommunications service providers are aware of their involvement in large-scale espionage.
Miller believes it is likely that a Chinese entity leased the telecommunications network address of a service provider in the Caribbean, routing malicious messages across the networks of companies in the region before is sent to the phones of the victims.
In a new statement released, China Unicom denied charges of spying on US mobile service users accessing international telecommunications networks.
A spokeswoman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington said the government "opposes cyber attacks of any kind".
"The Chinese government's stance on cybersecurity is clear and consistent. We firmly oppose and oppose cyber attacks of any kind. China is determined to protect cybersecurity," said the statement. father of the Chinese Embassy confirmed.
In April, the Federal Communications Commission, the US telecom operations regulator, warned that China Unicom's US business and the Chinese group's subsidiaries could be shut down.
Committee Chairman Ajit Pai said the agency was concerned about the operation of China Unicom by a corporation owned by the Beijing government.
Responding to the warning of the Federal Communications Commission, the Chinese group affirmed that China Unicom always complies with the law and is ready to cooperate with US law enforcement. China Unicom also said that its US subsidiaries operate "independently".
China Unicom is suspected of being involved in a conspiracy to spy on US phones.
The attacks on cell phones allow China to track and interfere with the communications of subscribers to US mobile services, according to the Guardian.
Large-scale reconnaissance
According to Gary Miller, China uses companies providing telecommunications services to send signaling messages to users in the US, usually when they are traveling.
Signaling messages are messages sent from global telecom operators and are anonymous to mobile phone users.
This texting allows companies to operate mobile phone locating services, connect mobile devices together and charge roaming charges. However, some signaling messages can be used for illegal purposes, such as monitoring, monitoring or interfering with communications.
US mobile operators can prevent most plots of such attacks, Miller said, but some cannot.
"Government agencies and Congress have known about the fragility of public cellular networks for years. However, government security recommendations are not being followed by companies, even recommendations. not enough to stop the attacks, "Mr. Miller said.
The peak of reconnaissance attacks from China occurred in 2018. American experts say the majority of the attacks were conducted through a Chinese government-owned telecommunications service operator named China Unicom.
Since 2018, tens of thousands of US telecom service users have become Chinese spies, Miller said.
"When the number of targets reaches tens of thousands, the attack can be seen as large-scale reconnaissance, mainly for gathering intelligence, sometimes targeting sensitive high-value targets," he said. Miller said.
In some cases, phones were attacked simultaneously through China Unicom and service providers in the Caribbean such as Cable & Wireless Communications in Barbados and Telecommunications Company in the Bahamas.
Dozens of attacks occurred over a period of so unusual 4-8 weeks that Mr. Miller perceived it as a "clear and strong" indication of planned attacks.
In 2019, the attacks targeting 3G network users in the US are mainly through Cable & Wireless Communications in Barbados. Meanwhile, the number of cyber attacks provided by the Chinese company decreased.
"China is reducing the number of attacks in 2019, focusing on focused surveillance, using proxy networks in the Caribbean to infiltrate," Mr. Miller said.
James Lewis, director of the Strategic Technology Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said China's large-scale phone reconnaissance plot "is just another example of an intelligence campaign. sophisticated and drastic ".
Chinese response
It is not clear whether telecommunications service providers are aware of their involvement in large-scale espionage.
Tens of thousands of US cell phone users have been spied on.
Miller believes it is likely that a Chinese entity leased the telecommunications network address of a service provider in the Caribbean, routing malicious messages across the networks of companies in the region before is sent to the phones of the victims.
In a new statement released, China Unicom denied charges of spying on US mobile service users accessing international telecommunications networks.
A spokeswoman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington said the government "opposes cyber attacks of any kind".
"The Chinese government's stance on cybersecurity is clear and consistent. We firmly oppose and oppose cyber attacks of any kind. China is determined to protect cybersecurity," said the statement. father of the Chinese Embassy confirmed.
In April, the Federal Communications Commission, the US telecom operations regulator, warned that China Unicom's US business and the Chinese group's subsidiaries could be shut down.
Committee Chairman Ajit Pai said the agency was concerned about the operation of China Unicom by a corporation owned by the Beijing government.
Responding to the warning of the Federal Communications Commission, the Chinese group affirmed that China Unicom always complies with the law and is ready to cooperate with US law enforcement. China Unicom also said that its US subsidiaries operate "independently".
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