Satellite Mobile Encryption Gets Cracked

Satellite cell phone encryption gets cracked by two German researchers from the Horst Görtz Institute for IT Security at the Ruhr University Bochum.  Mobile satellite encryption was thought to be secure .  It is used by many government and military organizations in many countries, including the United States.  It is also used by people who live in areas that have a lack of cellular infrastructure or low population count, such as rural areas and small towns.  These researchers cracked this encryption to expose the weaknesses of the satellite cell phone encryption system.

Satellite phones have encryption algorithms that have been set by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and two of the encryption methods, known as GMR-1 and GMR-2, have been decoded using hardware that is easy to obtain by anyone. The built-in cell phone encryption is in place to encrypt incoming and outgoing phone calls. Flaws that were discovered by the two researchers make it easy now for someone to be able to intercept and listen in on satellite phone calls.

While the average satellite phone user is unlikely to be affected by the breach in encryption, it is always a good idea to install additional encryption layers on your phone for protection. You can install software on your phone that will supplement the built-in mobile phone encryption that is already in place. If you are unsure if your phone is protected, you can take your phone to a specialist who can take the phone apart and inspect it thoroughly.

If you use your satellite phone on your satellite internet service, you can purchase hardware that will add an extra layer of protection for the devices on your network.  Mobile satellite service is delivered over voice over internet protocol service that is similar to other VOIP service.  You can add another layer by getting a secure VOIP server for cell phone encryption.

As technology advances, ways to circumvent security also advances.  Faster computers and sheer diligence are creating circumventions faster than ever before.  When cordless telephones were new on the market, someone cracked the DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) encryption system that was used to encrypt transmissions between the cordless handset and the base.

Then encryption system for GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) cell phones was cracked, which was used in second and third-generation cellular networks.  Afterwards, the encryption system for the GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) was cracked, which encrypted telephone calls and text messages.  Now that mobile satellite encryption has been cracked, cell phone encryption technology will need to discover ways to secure mobile phones.

To find out information about cell phone encryption products by KoolSpan, call 240-880-4400 or contact us via email.