GSM Interceptor

We are living in a world where not just our computers are at risk.  Today’s digital economy thrives on real-time communications and we are all highly dependent on our cell phones.  Our reliance on this technology to broker deals, make sales and transmit sensitive information is frightening. They are our most trusted companions when it comes to communication.

Technology to eavesdrop on GSM communications has existed in the black market for decades.  First retailing at around $200,000 this technology remained largely out of reach to all but the most professional thieves.  Nowadays however, this equipment is readily available not only to buy, but also to rent.

There are numerous threats to corporate information.  GSM eavesdropping is being used more often, and in many cases intercepts are occurring directly from GSM cell towers. This presents a real risk when it comes to GSM communications due to the many vulnerabilities inherent in the system.  To ensure information is secure, corporations need to rely on technology normally used by government agencies, guaranteeing that voice-traffic is undecipherable to anyone but the intended recipient.

After all, it is the accessing and sharing of information that creates vulnerabilities and this is why it is necessary to implement security measures such as the use of encryption.  Gold Lock Enterprise is a tool that can ensure the security of not just GSM communications, but also the whole spectrum of digital media.

Gold Lock delivers a range of hardened products tested up to military grade encryption levels, which can ensure the security of most forms of data.  When used in conjunction with sound data security policies corporations can finally start to fill in the huge gaps between firewalls, anti-virus and other security measures.

Various world governments have started significant research into one-touch hacking tools, which can be utilized on the battlefront.  These tools are being designed to be able to target weaknesses in Wi-Fi networks as well as intercept VoIP communications and satellite relays.

Following recent developments, the United States government has publicized the fact that it is researching such technologies in order to empower and increase the role of the battlefront soldier.  This technology should enable users to exploit weaknesses in security, control power grids and manipulate security systems remotely.

This is of great concern to any organization because this technology is just a showcase of what is actually currently available online.  Things such as packet sniffers, WEP and WPA-PSK key decryptors have been available online from one source or another for years and it is only now that the government is starting to adopt the practices of experienced hackers and adapt them for battlefield use.

The modern organization faces a real threat of digital attack on a daily basis, and with tools on this being developed by the government; one can only imagine what is available to the digital underground.

Traditional security measures in the forms of IDS systems, firewalls and others are no longer adequate when it comes to protecting security.  Organizations need to stop thinking about ‘if’ they are breached, but ‘when’ they will be breached.  By changing company focus from that of prevention to limitation ensures that should the worst-case scenario occur, companies can still minimize risk by ensuring all assets are secure with technologies such as advanced Encryption amongst others.

Gold Lock Enterprise not only serves as a military grade voice encryptor, but actually works to ensure that all file and text communications are also protected from hackers at a level equivalent to that in use by the NSA and worldwide military organizations.

GSM communications use a proprietary encryption algorithm known as A5. A5 is known to be ineffective, it has been heavily crippled due to various export controls enforced by NATO and the United States.

As a direct result, secure GSM communication without third party encryption is impossible, and anyone with a well-equipped notebook computer / antenna is able to listen in to GSM communications.

Two hundred lines of code were all it took for an Israeli scientist named Elad Barkan to break A5 encryption. Because of this, secure communications are impossible and to help prevent GSM snooping it is recommended that corporations consider third-party GSM security when thinking about data policies.

3G has brought additional security features into the equation, but backdoors and loopholes make it a dubious solution for classified information.
It seems that in the long term, GSM security will remain flawed. This only puts an onus on corporations and individuals to encrypt their communication using third party products.

Surprisingly though, GSM security is often over-looked due to the fact many people still believe that all GSM communications are secure. The truth is that the technology is freely available, and anyone experienced enough can easily construct a GSM interceptor.

The fact of the matter is that GSM will always remain vulnerable to attacks from interceptors and even directly at base stations. Corporations that fail to utilize appropriate security measures will be vulnerable to attack as long as they fail to adopt appropriate security policies such as using GSM voice encryption software.

GSM is an outdated technology. Since its inception, there have been numerous developments in more secure technologies but still GSM remains dominant due to government pressure to try to ensure that cellular communications will always be vulnerable to attacks.

Secure GSM communications are realistic, economical and easy to use. By integrating software such as Gold Lock Enterprise, you can effectively turn any cell phone into a military-grade secure communications platform.

In 1979, Whitfield Diffie and Martin Hellman authored a practical method of public key exchange, which was known almost immediately as Diffie-Hellman. After thirty years, Diffie Hellman is still used in all the best examples of encryption software due to its speed, accuracy and ability to ensure protection from “Man in the Middle attacks” when used in conjunction with various authentication techniques.

The true beauty of Diffie-Hellman key exchange is in the way that it establishes a quick and secure ‘key’ which can be used for full secrecy due to the fact that the steps required to generate the key no longer exist.
This secure key can then be used in conjunction with single key encryption algorithms such as RSA to transport public key details in order to set up more secure relationships.

The efficiency of Diffie-Hellman is mostly due to the simplicity of the system. It is simple enough to be integrated in almost every main security suite as a basis for key-exchange to try to setup secure asymmetrical cryptography, which is greatly more secure than the likes of RSA.

It is important to understand that Diffie-Hellman is not an encryption algorithm, but a way to generate a completely random key that is unique to the two parties that underwent the key agreement phase. This means that Diffie-Hellman can generate keys for any symmetric encryption algorithm, such as ecliptic curve cryptography, which is currently one of the most efficient private-key algorithms currently available.

Gold Lock Enterprise utilizes Diffie-Hellman and Elliptic Curve cryptography to ensure the security of information that will be transported or shared with others. This means by choosing Gold Lock Enterprise, key management becomes fully automated due to the highly secure transparent negotiation that takes place in the beginning of each call, and in the background during each call.

How Can Gold Lock Enterprise ensure Data Security?
We are seeing a rise in attacks from Viruses and Trojans exponentially thanks to the expansion of the internet and broadband technologies, which have essentially opened up the Internet to a vast majority of hackers who unscrupulously target both home users and corporations.

No longer do hackers need to target specific files, they can infiltrate a whole system and just steal the entire hard-drive. This includes previously deleted files and also e-mails, keystrokes and VOIP communications.

Are you at risk of Industrial Espionage? Ask yourself these questions:
• How many sensitive e-mails have you sent?
• Do you discuss sensitive information on your cell phone?
• Have you ever used your credit card online?
• Do you use payroll and accounting software?
• Does your company run regular backups?

If the answer is yes to one or more and you have not taken adequate precautions, then it is not a case of if but a matter of when you will be compromised.

It costs the average business $45,000 to recover a security breach and this does not take into account the value of stolen data. When you look at the many recent cases of government data theft, the cost of data stolen has reached into millions of dollars.

Thankfully, from a financial point of view achieving adequate data security is not hideously expensive. By utilizing a multi-layered approach, one can ensure that not only all entry points are covered, but also all communications are secure and data access is restricted and secured against snooping.

Numerous software packages exist to perform these roles, but for those looking for an all-in-one solution, then consider using the award-winning Gold Lock Enterprise suite of products. Our software can turn the tides in the war of information.