IP: GSM decoding for $4500 in 2.5 minutes

[Dave Farber <farber@cis.upenn.edu>]

>
>To: cypherpunks@toad.com
>Subject: GSM decoding for $4500 in 2.5 minutes
>Date: Wed, 19 May 1999 12:49:33 -0700
>From: John Gilmore <gnu@toad.com>
>Sender: owner-cypherpunks@toad.com
>
>A Russian GSM interception system for US$4500 claims to offer
>decryption of the content in 2.5 minutes.  See:
>
>         http://www.rinet.ru/~uandi/gsm/
>
>GSM Test & Surveillance System. This unit is our latest development,
>it uses break through technology in decrypting cryptographic
>algorithms A8, A3, A5 etc. used by GSM network. By using our unique
>hardware and software, similar to DDI's features used to decode AMPS
>network signals, Professional GSM Test & Surveillance System will
>using the advanced software, track calls within the surrounding area,
>staying with the call. It will display control commands to and from
>the phone, monitor the voice channel (Voice) and reverse channel (SIM
>- Subscriber Identity Module number, IMSI - International Mobile
>Subscriber Identity, TMSI - Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity,
>Subscriber Authentication Key and PIN - Personal Identification Number
>and other information).  The process of decrypting and making all of
>calculations takes ~ 2.5 minutes, so the call length of the phone that
>you are tracking must be at least that long in order for GSM Test and
>Surveillance Unit to process and verify all of information to come up
>with appropriate values for programming new SIM.