Secret Service dismantles network capable of shutting down cell service in New York

The US Secret Service says it has disrupted a web of devices utilized to transportation retired assassination threats against US officials and for anonymous communications betwixt menace actors, according to a study from NBC News. In the Tuesday announcement, the bureau revealed that it uncovered the web wrong a 35-mile radius of the United Nations General Assembly, which started this week.

In summation to posing a menace to US officials, the Secret Service said the devices could’ve unopen down cellphone towers and exigency communications successful the country arsenic well.

The Secret Service began its probe successful the outpouring pursuing “multiple telecommunications-related imminent threats directed towards elder US authorities officials.” Over the people of its investigation, the bureau recovered implicit 300 SIM paper servers and 100,000 SIM cards successful 5 locations passim the New York area. 

“This web had the imaginable to disable cellphone towers and fundamentally unopen down the cellular web successful New York City,” Matt McCool, the caput of the Secret Service New York Field Office, said successful a video announcing the news. Anthony Ferrante, the planetary caput of cybersecurity signifier astatine the consulting steadfast FTI, said the strategy could besides person been utilized for eavesdropping, according to The New York Times.

McCool added that aboriginal investigation suggests cellular communications betwixt overseas actors and “individuals that are known to instrumentality enforcement.” The bureau is presently investigating whether the imaginable menace actors planned to usage the web to disrupt communications during the UN General Assembly. As reported by CBS News, officials said the servers were susceptible of processing 30 cardinal substance messages per minute, adding that the strategy was “well organized and good funded.”

“These recovered devices nary longer airs a menace to the New York tri-state area,” McCool said. “The Secret Service volition proceed to tally down each leads until we afloat recognize the intent of the operation.”