PST initiates investigation of possible mobile espionage – Dagbladet.no

(Dagbladet.no): Police Security Service initiates investigation related to the fake cell phone base stations that are revealed through Aftenposten revelations in recent days.

– PST has today decided to initiate an investigation to examine whether the information has emerged lately surrounding fake base stations concerns illegal intelligence activities for the benefit of foreign states cf. Penal Code. § 91a, writes PST in a statement.

The confirmation that PST now go actively into investigation comes after the government and the other secret services today got sent a report to the preliminary conclusions of the National Security Authority (NSM) in the case.

– We have made investigations over several days, at by different methods and engineering tools. Our main conclusion is that it is likely that the findings Aftenposten has made through their investigations are real, writes Director of National Security Authority, Kjetil Nilsen, in a statement in ettermidag.

NSM believes it is not possible to draw absolute conclusions, but would rather not get kelp details in investigations.

report ready

At PST starts investigation probably means that the report suggests that foreign intelligence services can stand behind one or more false base stations. The signals which probably stems from such illegal surveillance devices came from places close by including the Parliament, Prime Minister residence and finance companies at Aker Brygge.

– Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defence and PST has now received the report. Portions of the content is graded, so the report will not be made public, said communications manager Kjetil Berg Veirs at NSM Dagbladet.

In advance of Aftenposten publication of espionage suspicions, did NSM own investigations in downtown Oslo corresponding journalists and made similar findings.

Known issue

The technology called IMSI catchere has been dramatically cheaper in recent years, down to ten thousand dollars per unit. It has led to a wide range of stakeholders – from prying individuals and criminals to the police and the biggest intelligence services – have access to such equipment.

system that can “force” phones in a certain circumference via monitoring device is now getting so small versions that they can fit in a briefcase or even under clothing of a person in motion.

False base stations has for many years been a familiar security, and is one of the main reasons why Norwegian dignitaries and others with security clearances are not allowed to discuss sensitive material in ordinary mobile phone calls.

“Security Classified information shall be treated in approved systems or special encrypted mobile phones. Such classified telephone solutions exist for different security levels, and include use in the management, “writes NSM in its press release today.

Dagbladet.no comes with more.