Iran’s police chief has warned opposition supporters against using SMS text messages and e-mails to organize antigovernment rallies.

Ismail Ahmadi Moghaddam said spreading word of such demonstrations was a crime that carried a “heavy penalty.”

Cell-phone and e-mail messages emerged as a key form of communication for Iran’s opposition in the unrest that erupted in Iran after June’s disputed presidential election — including to organize demonstrations and disseminate news and images.

The messages have also become an important source of information for foreign media who are banned from directly covering the protests.

Moghaddam said anyone using SMS or email messages to organize opposition rallies should know their messages were being monitored.

He said it was possible to trace both sender and recipient, and he warned that anonymous proxy servers would not protect user identities.

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.

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