Your Phone Might Be Tracked: Unmasking IMSI Catchers

2025-04-27
Your Phone Might Be Tracked: Unmasking IMSI Catchers

Have you ever wondered if your phone's information is being stolen while you're on a moving train using Zoom? This article reveals a long-standing security vulnerability: IMSI catchers. They exploit flaws in GSM, UMTS, and LTE protocols to obtain users' International Mobile Subscriber Identities (IMSIs), enabling tracking and identification. While 5G's NR protocol offers improvements, vulnerabilities persist. The article details the principles and workings of active and passive IMSI catchers, explores security advancements and potential risks in 5G networks, and suggests methods to mitigate risks.