The use of IMSI catchers in New Zealand

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kyhwana2

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#1979528 19-Mar-2018 09:08

InfiniteLoop:
Linux:

What can you do with an IMSI? I use to manage the IMSI / SIM cards and it's not very exciting at all

Linux

The sole purpose would be to detect presence of the phones and log the IMSI and if possible IMEI numbers

The IMSI catcher linked earlier will log the IMSI and carrier, it won't get you the IMEI number. If all you're wanting is to detect presence, that with several cheap RTL-SDR's to monitor the various frequencies will get you what you want.

wellygary

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#1979577 19-Mar-2018 09:43

InfiniteLoop:

That's about as much as I'd be willing to say other than that information wouldn't be used for anything nefarious or illegal.

ANY USE is illegal under the Radio Comms act

http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1989/0148/latest/DLM195576.html

133A Offence to disclose contents of radiocommunications

"(1) Every person commits an offence against this Act who receives a radiocommunication and who, knowing that the radiocommunication was not intended for that person,—

(a) makes use of the radiocommunication or any information derived from that radiocommunication; or"

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#1979639 19-Mar-2018 10:36

I think @knoydart would have a definitive answer.

In any case, intercepting mobile communications and logging IMEI is something that I certainly don't see as something good. Security services need a warrant for this kind of interception, why would private enterprises do it without even the mobile user knowledge?

knoydart

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#1979670 19-Mar-2018 10:58

Thanks @freitasm

As @wellygary has already mentioned, the Radiocommunications act covers this off under section 133A. There are however exceptions in the act for the security services to do their work. @kyhwana2 and others have covered off most other things already. The Cellcos have excellent equipment to find unlicensed transmitters, so please don't do it.

ResponseMediaNZ

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#1980154 19-Mar-2018 21:24

knoydart:

Thanks @freitasm

As @wellygary has already mentioned, the Radiocommunications act covers this off under section 133A. There are however exceptions in the act for the security services to do their work. @kyhwana2 and others have covered off most other things already. The Cellcos have excellent equipment to find unlicensed transmitters, so please don't do it.

Add the telcos great to your RSM arsenal and there is no point even trying this... The telco and radio industry work hard with RSM to make sure NZ has useful spectrum, so no point messing with it.

If it was for legit purposes I'm sure you wouldn't needing to be asking about it on a forum.

chevrolux

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#1980187 19-Mar-2018 22:07

I thought land transport already basically did this with their Bluetooth tracker things?

jjnz1

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#1980196 19-Mar-2018 22:28

My 2 cents:

(some) IMSI catchers do indeed capture IMEI, IMSI, call recordings, text data, mobile data.

They are illegal unless you have approval from the telcos, RSM and the Privacy Commissioner.

They scare the hell out of me (and I am a security professional.)

My advice, if you come across these anywhere in NZ, I urge you to contact the Police/GCSB.

I am trying to understand why you would want this data(I am assuming your not Government because you are definitely going about this the wrong way).

The only reason I can think of is for 'client/customer analytics'. If this is the case I can point you to a legal service which can provide this to you, but the correct way.

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MurrayM

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#1980247 20-Mar-2018 07:45

jjnz1:

The only reason I can think of is for 'client/customer analytics'. If this is the case I can point you to a legal service which can provide this to you, but the correct way.

Yup, I think he's got some idea that requires tracking phones (and ergo people); crowd counting, traffic flow, etc.

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