Cell phone Wiretapping

[Juan Tamad]

Cell phone firms dispute wiretap claim

First posted 02:01am (Mla time) June 07, 2005
By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Inquirer News Service

THE COUNTRY'S over 27 million cell phone users face the prospect of someone snooping on their text messages or listening to their conversations, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said yesterday.

"If they have the capability to wiretap the President, they have the capability of wiretapping you. And I wouldn't be surprised with this equipment they have that they can wiretap anyone," Bunye said.

But the country's leading cell phone companies are disputing as far-fetched the Palace's claim of wiretapping over their GSM-based (or global system for mobile communication) networks.

A cell phone firm executive, who refused to be identified, said that wiretapping a GSM line was difficult because all messages or phone calls were encrypted and they could only be read by the recipient.

To intercept a GSM call or message, the executive said the eavesdropper should have a high-tech decrypting machine or he would only be getting computer gibberish.

The executive noted that wiretapping was easier with the previous cell phone technology -- analog -- where a voice was sent through the network, unlike GSM, which transmits only digital computer bits.

Another executive of a rival firm said that illegal surveillance on a GSM could be possible if the recipient was taping the phone call or the wiretappers had a contact among the network's switch operators.

But then the wiretappers must also have the code of the call's recipient to decipher the call or message, the executive said.

No official comment

The country's leading telecommunication firms, Smart Communications Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc., have declined to make an official comment on the issue of security of their networks.

However, there are a lot of ways of tampering with an audio tape, according to Forensic Tape Analysis Inc. (tapeexpert.com).

One can obscure inappropriate stops and starts in a recording by mixing in a different sound. One can also rearrange or add words or sounds to change content and context. One can also delete unwanted words and sounds by recording over them.

Cut and paste

Editing a tape can also be as simple as cutting it at one point and rejoining it to another section using an adhesive that is thin enough to avoid impeding the tape's motion. This process is called splicing.

Nowadays, it is even easier to alter audio recordings using a computer through programs like ProTools.

According to Josa Deinla, a broadcast communication senior at the University of the Philippines, even students can mix, delete and add sounds to a recording.

According to tapeexpert.com, one can determine if a recording is authentic by observing unexplained gaps that contain buzzing, humming or silence. Short, abrupt sounds like clicks may also indicate splicing. Changes in background sounds, volume, voices or topic should also raise red flags.

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Globe, Smart at Sun tsikoteers... Possible ba ito??

[kimpOy]

napanood mo ba yung enemy of the state starring will smith...

matagal na yun... actually delayed nga ang technology dito sa pinas eh...

[Bogeyman]

...the country's leading cell phone companies are disputing as far-fetched the Palace's claim of wiretapping over their GSM-based (or global system for mobile communication) networks.

A cell phone firm executive, who refused to be identified, said that wiretapping a GSM line was difficult because all messages or phone calls were encrypted and they could only be read by the recipient....

Far-fetched and difficult, but not impossible. Sa talent ng Pinoy pagdating sa IT, I'm not surprised that the job was pulled off in the first place. Apparently the technology they're using is not so proprietary anymore.

Syet, baka na-intercept na yung mga dirty messages ko!

[stinkaboy]

can( globe/smart/sun) they read mms ren? like what if kung postpaid?

[aann]

"Someone is Listening"

http://www.danbrown.com/secrets/digi...listening.html


nakuha ko from dan brown's site...dami facts secrets etc. dun

[aann]

eto pa..hehe

http://www.danbrown.com/secrets/biza..._fortress.html


Wiretapping is possible....but with the case discussed here, improbable...unless US is involved nga

consipracy..bwehehe

[av8or5]

for landline.its easy to tap calls..but for gsm wireless technology...its near impossible..unless thru it source or switch

[the_wildthing]

"Wire tap" as traditionally meant might not be as easy, but recording a conversation by one party is relatively easy. Some mobile phones are probably capable out of the box. Even without it, routing the audio to a recorder could be just as simple as plugging in a wire to a recorder...

[ts1n1ta]

in case it's possible imagine what chaos it can bring if anybody can just wiretap anybody!! on the other hand if someone will wiretap me they will just die of boredom, alang mashadong makukuhang juicy conversation. hahaha

[baurtwellXUV]

wala ng privacy...