Does anyone have a link to the Chaos Computer Club presentation?
A5/1 and A5/3 are Authentication Algorithms and not ENCRYPTION/Decryption. The Ciphering Encryption Algorithm for GSM/GPRS is either gea1, gea2 and gea3.
In the United States, a certain 3 letter network operator specifically forces the newer authentication algorithms to be disabled
I must respectfully disagree with a number of your points.
possession of kiddie porn is just another thought crime and prosecuting it is complete hypocrisy.
The act of possession means it is no longer a thought crime. It is a crime in the United States to even view an image of Child Pornography.
The politicians like it because it is 1000x easier to prosecute someone for having a copy of kiddie porn than it is to catch and prosecute the people manufacturing it.
There are ways to catch the manufacturer, but what other freedoms will be lost in the balance. Shall we have to provide ID to buy a Camera?
A couple of points need to be clarified in your comment.
That will cause violent and unstoppable retching from all bodily orifices
WGA is like a body cavity search, but without the rubber glove
1. In GSM/UMTS, The encryption keys are stored on the SIM/USIM and never transmitted over the air. There are two parameters passed to the MS/UE which calculates and returns a value to the network. If the two values don't match, the authentication process fails.
2.) Again, There is the issue of knowing the keys. The IMSI/TMSI/PTMSI is not enough information to successfully intercept a call. I can setup an entirely fake network for Mobile to Mobile calls, and if both mobiles are on my network, I can turn off authentication and ciphering and have complete access to the call.
3.) Private Keys are stored on the SIM/USIM
Don't get me wrong, A number of security issues still remain with Wireless Networks, but they do have a few security measures.
I am going to speak in regards to GSM and UMTS networks as I know the protocol
There are security messages in Wireless Networks. There is Authentication and Ciphering in GSM/GPRS/EDGE/WCDMA/HSPA/HSPA+. In addition, there is integrity protection of signalling messages in WCDMA/HSPA,HSPA+ networks. There are a few messages which can not be ciphered/integrity protected for obvious reasons such as the initial Location Update Request/Attach Request. Yes, certain authentication algorithms have been compromised GSM A5/2. It has been superceeded by A5/3.
It is true that malware has made it onto cellular devices (Blackberry in UAE and Symbian come to mind). It is almost impossible for someone to remotely access the phone without such software existing on the device for voice frames.
Yes, the redirecting of packets/frames is a legal requirement in many jurisdictions. It usually has to be accompanied with a warrant from a relevant law enforcement agency otherwise the specific phone company employee faces criminal charges. The usual redirection is done in the MSC or SGSN and I have never seen a case where it was done at the basestation.
The network providers actually contain visible disclaimers about the total speed.
There is extensive documentation available concerning additional accessories to the devices. If I recall correctly, some of these devices are even shipped with the Y Cable.
I don't think any changes are required for Linux or MacOSX because the RxWindowSize in Linux auto-tunes to the correct value.
The following is the default in Fedora 11
2.6.29.5-191.fc11.x86_64:
[rwwyatt@rwwyatt ipv4]$ more
Disclaimer: I work for a Data Card Manufacturer
Without the actual procedure for the tests, it is difficult to say if PCWorld'ss are any good. I am not familiar with the software used as no major industry provider uses it. The standard tool in the industry is Windcatcher
It really depends on the way the test is run. The problem actually relates to the TcpWindowSize as it should be increased to at least 128Kb for HSPA based networks and for CDMA as well.
Another major issue is that Data Cards don't inherently support streaming. Streaming is often used as a secondary PDP context and this will have a major negative effect. Were they in a handover region or not? On HSPA, every other cell is an interferer so throughput should be measured with a Single Carrier in the active set. It is still possible to be in a handover zone while in a parked car.
Did they use the carrier supplied good coverage locations? Randomly may not cross the panaroma of RSSI.
As well, the latest modem from Novatel Wireless is the USB760. I also believe the latest Sierra Wireless card is the compass something or other. Did they use a Y Cable? Did they use an external antenna? What model of PC did they use as TRP/TIS makes a huge difference in low coverage areas?
Without more data, I would still say there isn't sufficient evidence to form any conclusions from their article.
Working in the industry, I can tell you phones have a really really short design period. Typically the design starts around 9 months before commercial availability.
If the Iphone had fizzled, all Smart phone projects would have been killed.
We actually have caught up to Japan for the most part. There are other technologies at play depending on the region in the east (CDMA, WiBro, WiMAX), but WiMax is dying
If I'm not very much mistaken, Apple developed the iphone. There isn't a competition between at&t and samsung. It is a competition between phone manufacturers. And even that is not very a good competition actually because nokia has continued to produce 50 versions of the 2 crappy phones a year, SE is nowhere, samsung is trying something as is LG (both have shitty mobile OS).
There is a competition between AT&T and Verizon,Sprint, T-Mobile, etc all; and handsets are one of the areas of competition. The IPhone has some rather significant problems as well. Because the feature set is somewhat limited, the duct tape and bailing wire used to keep the Iphone functioning is not as obviouis
If iphone were available to all cellphone users, then probably all cell providers would improve their networks.
Some operators already spend a bundle on their network. If you have been with Verizon Wireless for sometime, you can remember the bad old days of Airtouch. In 2002, There was no coverage in significant portions of west Nebraska along I-80. In 2003, You were pretty much covered all the way into Cheyenne. I remember when AT&T/Cingular froze capital spending. AT&T has one of the slowest 3G networks in the world.
Of course it is. Exclusive (in this sense) is just another word for lock-in and lock-in is bad by definition. Can you imagine how would it be if all had to buy computers from internet providers? You would be paying 10 times more for 10 times lesser hardware, and I hope you would like your monthly payments, and probably you won't even own the computer.
The true fact is that we are loosing ownership rights faster than you can imagine. Do you run MS Windows? You license software and no longer own it. In fact, you can never even own your own home in most states because of property taxes. Ownership is an illusion.
Since when? Even if there isn't enough of spectrum (which isn't true) some regulation would help to break down those lock-ins and other anti-consumer policies which would help with at least some competition. The problem we have now that there isn't a competition at all.
Spectrum is licensed by the FCC and sold at a very tidy profit. How many small operators are going to be able to afford the 1 billion dollar upfront cost? The FCC also changed the rules allowing some operators to obtain upto 65 Mhz in one market. The real lack of competition comes in the backhaul. T-Mobile has to buy their backhaul from either Verizon or AT&T.
Intel CPUs are not defective, they just act that way. -- Henry Spencer
