SnoopSnitch for Android warns you about fake base stations
So-called IMSI-Catchers and StingRays act as false mobile towers that sit between mobile devices such as smartphones and real towers maintained by mobile providers or other legitimate companies.
These fake towers can intercept mobile phone traffic and track movement of individuals carrying phones and even manipulate the device remotely.
SnoopSnitch review
SnoopSnitch is a brand new application for Android devices that provides phone owners with information about potential threats in their vicinity.
Note: The application requires root access. It furthermore will only run on Android 4.1 or later operating systems and requires a Qualcomm chipset. The app has been tested successfully on a handful devices already including the Moto E and G, Sony Xperia Z1, LG G2, Samsung S3 Neo and Samsung S4. Other devices like the Nexus 5 or Samsung Galaxy S3 are not supported right now.
On devices without root, SnoopSnitch analyzes the installed firmware to provide information about missing security patches. On rooted devices, it adds the ability to collect and analyze mobile radio data to raise awareness for fake base stations, user tracking, and SS7 attacks.
You can download the app from Google Play or directly from the project website. There is also an option to get the source code and compile the app in a local development environment.
The app "collects and analyzes mobile radio data" while it is running to warn you about potential threats such as fake base stations, user tracking and over-the-air updates.
Once you have installed the app you can run tests to identify threats. Tests include placing an outgoing call to a number that is always busy and sending a SMS message to an invalid number.
The creators of the app note that service charges may apply even though it is unlikely in the majority of cases. They still advise to use a pre-paid SIM card for the test as it provides better options to control these charges.
Users of the application can upload test results to a remote server. The data uploaded by all users to the server is made available to all users of the application. This means that users can access all security events and suspicious activity provided that these have been uploaded to the server previously.
A related application is IMSI Catcher Detector which concentrates on fake base stations only though.
Closing Words
I can see this being used in business environments and other sensitive areas to make sure that traffic is not flowing through fake base stations.
Uhh, this has already been possible – I am not sure how but remember my brother telling me about it. I’m not a whatsapp user so not sure of the specifics, but something about sending the image as a file and somehow bypassing the default compression settings that are applied to inbound photos.
He has also used this to share movies to whatsapp groups, and files 1Gb+.
Like I said, I never used whatsapp, but I know 100% this isn’t a “brand new feature”, my brother literally showed me him doing it, like… 5 months ago?
Martin, what happened to those: 12 Comments (https://www.ghacks.net/chatgpt-gets-schooled-by-princeton-university/#comments). Is there a specific justifiable reason why they were deleted?
Hmm, it looks like the gHacks website database is faulty, and not populating threads with their relevant cosponsoring posts.
The page on ghacks this is on represents the best of why it has become so worthless, fill of click-bait junk that it’s about to be deleted from my ‘daily reads’.
It’s really like “Press Release as re-written by some d*ck for clicks…poorly.” And the subjects are laughable. Can’t wait for “How to search for files on Windows”.
> The page on ghacks this is on represents the best of why it has become so worthless, fill of click-bait junk…
Sadly, I have to agree.
Only Martin and Ashwin are worth subscribing to.
Especially Emre Çitak and Shaun are the worst ones.
If ghacks.net intended “Clickbait”, it would mark the end of Ghacks Technology News.
Ghacks doesn’t need crappy clickbaits. Clearly separate articles from newer authors (perhaps AIs and external sales person or external advertising man) as just “Advertisements”!
We, the subscribers of Ghacks, urge Martin to make a decision.
because nevermore wants to “monetize” on every aspect of human life…
“Threads” is like the Walmart of Social Media.
How hard can it be to clone a twitter version of that as well? They’re slow.
Yes, why not mention how large the HD files can be?
Why, not mention what version of WhatsApp is needed?
These omissions make the article feel so bare. If not complete.
Sorry posted on the wrong page.
such a long article for such a simple matter. Worthless article ! waste of time
I already do this by attaching them via the ‘Document’ option.
I don’t know what’s going on here at Ghacks but it’s obvious that something is broken, comments are being mixed whatever the article, I am unable to find some of my later posts neither. :S
Quoting the article,
“As users gain popularity, the value of their tokens may increase, allowing investors to reap rewards.”
Besides, beyond the thrill and privacy risks or not, the point is to know how you gain popularity, be it on social sites as everywhere in life. Is it by being authentic, by remaining faithful to ourselves or is it to have this particular skill which is to understand what a majority likes, just like politicians, those who’d deny to the maximum extent compatible with their ideological partnership, in order to grab as many of the voters they can?
I see the very concept of this Friend.tech as unhealthy, propagating what is already an increasing flaw : the quest for fame. I won’t be the only one to count himself out, definitely.
@John G. is right : my comment was posted on [https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/23/what-is-friend-tech/] and it appears there but as well here at [https://www.ghacks.net/2023/07/08/how-to-follow-everyone-on-threads/]
This has been lasting for several days. Fix it or at least provide some explanations if you don’t mind.
> Google Chrome is following in Safari’s footsteps by introducing a new feature that allows users to move the Chrome address bar to the bottom of the screen, enhancing user accessibility and interaction.
Firefox did this long before Safari.
Basically they’ll do anything except fair royalties.