Chinese hackers infect carriers to steal SMS messages
Malware tied to Chinese hackers has been found infecting telecommunication networks to steal SMS messages from thousands of phone numbers. The spying effort comes from a Chinese state-sponsored hacking group called APT 41, according to the cybersecurity firm FireEye. On Thursday, the company published a report on a malware strain from the group that's designed to infect Linux-based servers used by telecommunication carriers to route SMS messages. Some time this year, FireEye uncovered the malicious computer code on a cluster of servers belonging to an unnamed telecommunication network provider. "During this intrusion, thousands of phone numbers were targeted, to include several high-ranking foreign individuals likely of interest to China," the company told PCMag. Interestingly, the malware is selective of which SMS messages it will try to collect. The APT 41 hackers pre-programmed it using two lists. The first one searches outs the target, based on the person's phone number and International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number. The second list contains certain keywords that the malware will seek to find within the SMS messages. If one of the keywords is found in an SMS message, the malware will then save it in a .CSV file, which the hacker can later extract. "The keyword list contained items of geopolitical interest for Chinese intelligence collection. Sanitized examples include the names of political leaders, military and intelligence organizations and political movements at odds with the Chinese government," FireEye researchers said in the report. The suspected Chinese hackers behind the malware also clearly knew who they were targeting, since they had access to both the victims' phone numbers and the IMSI numbers, which is harder to come by. On some Android phones, you can access the IMSI number in the settings function. But the information is primarily used by telecommunication carriers to uniquely identity each subscriber on a cellular network, which suggests the hackers had some serious intel-collecting abilities. In the same intrusion, the hackers were also found interacting with databases that contained voice call record details, including the time of the call, the duration and the phone numbers involved. "In 2019, FireEye observed four telecommunication organizations targeted by APT41 actors," the company added in today's report, which refrained from naming the organizations hit. "Further, four additional telecommunications entities were targeted in 2019 by separate threat groups with suspected Chinese state-sponsored associations." Other security researchers have also noticed suspected Chinese cyberspies infiltrating cellular networks. In June, security firm Cybereason uncovered evidence that Chinese hackers had broken into telecommunication carriers to steal call log and location data from "high-value" individuals across the globe. The attacks underscore the risk of sending unencrypted information over cellular networks; the content is readable to whoever controls the SMS routing server. For especially sensitive messages, it's a good idea to use a mobile messaging app, such as WhatsApp or Signal, which offer end-to-end encryption.
- 最近发表
-
- DNC 2024 speech: Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have a superpower no other Democrat has.
- Giggs 'headbutted' ex
- 41% of Americans support Trump
- 石棉县法院:成功执结追索劳动报酬系列案 让27名农民工安心过年
- Slot extends perfect Liverpool start
- Extreme Hubble photo shows a galaxy ripping solar systems from another galaxy
- Chinese, Russian leaders vow support for dialogue with North Korea
- Tinder adds Blind Date feature
- Bernie Sanders’ DNC speech sounded like everyone else’s. That’s astonishing.
- Pakistan wrestlers bag two more medals
- 随机阅读
-
- Which is Faster for Gaming, Windows 10 or Windows 11?
- N. Korea may resume Arirang mass games in September
- 建立长效机制 稳步推进文化旅游资源普查
- Jenna Fischer shared Jim and Pam's long
- Pakistan Cricket at crossroads after shock defeat at Pindi
- Inam eyeing third CWG gold
- Inam eyeing third CWG gold
- 检查维修企业禁止露天喷涂作业
- How to Backup Your Gmail Account
- Twitter confirms Trump's ban is permanent, even if he runs again in 2024
- Is this Tesla's new Model S?
- Chinese, Russian leaders vow support for dialogue with North Korea
- When Are Next
- “严道老”品牌牵手“塔山茶” 助力脱贫攻坚
- 湿气重吃什么?老广餐桌上,兵团杏子、牛羊肉来一份!
- Korea, Canada eye deeper security, economic ties
- 海丰芥蓝入选全国名特优新农产品名录
- U.K. court rules Boris Johnson’s suspension of Parliament unlawful.
- Transparent electrode lays foundation for see
- Pakistan wrestlers bag two more medals
- 搜索
-
- 友情链接
-