ICE Buys More IMSI Catchers

IMSI Catchers like HailStorm and Harris' Stingray violate the 4th Amendment, so police want them to be a secret. They work by simulating a cell phone tower which then collects data on every cell phone within its range. Even if the police get a warrant for a particular target, these devices search every innocent person in the area. I've seen them deployed in surveillance vans, as well as DHS airplanes that circle above crime scenes and protests to collect data. The best defense is to not carry a cell phone, carry a burner phone, or put your phone in airplane mode when attending public events where you don't want to be tracked.

TechCrunch has a good article showing the public records documenting the recent ICE purchase and explaining how the devices work. Also check our Bookmarks for a link to over 200 pages of Stingray manuals to learn more about them. Here's the TechCrunch article:

ICE bought vehicles equipped with fake cell towers to spy on phones  | TechCrunch