A German computer engineer announced he had deciphered and published the security code used to encrypt most of the world’s cell phone calls. Karsten Nohl said the G.S.M. (Global System for Mobile Communications) algorithm, which was developed in 1988 was still in use after 21 years, leaving 80% of mobile calls at risk.
Are cell phone calls really secure? Not likely!
The G.S.M. Association says that while Mr. Nohl’s actions are illegal, his statement is an exaggeration of the security threat to wireless calls. The code is a 64-bit binary code, half of what is used today to encrypt calls on third-generation networks. Do you think he is exaggerating the threat?
The algorithm code book is now available on the Internet for downloading. Does that make you feel just a bit insecure? Not me! I figure that the governments of the world have long had the technology to monitor our calls. Who is more frightening than that?
The G.S.M. Association developed a 128-bit successor code in 2007, but most networks have not invested the money to make the security upgrade. Seems like they are playing fast and loose with our privacy. What do you think? Is it something to lose sleep over? Should we be paranoid that our mundane conversations over cell phones can now be decoded by the criminal forces? Do we have a big enough ego to think that those criminals would be interested in us anyway?
