According to investigators, the network would have been capable of sending 30 million anonymous text messages per minute. It was strong enough to conduct distributed denial-of-service attacks, enable encrypted communications and jam cell towers. “This network had the potential to disable cell phone towers and essentially shut down the cellular network in New York City,” said special agent Matt McCool.
Who uncovered a secret network that could have shut down cell service in NYC?
Answer: The Secret Service.
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The Secret Service announced this week that it had seized a large network of SIM servers in the city that would have been able to wreak some serious havoc. Discovered in August, the network was comprised of more than 300 SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards. It was located across multiple sites.
According to investigators, the network would have been capable of sending 30 million anonymous text messages per minute. It was strong enough to conduct distributed denial-of-service attacks, enable encrypted communications and jam cell towers. “This network had the potential to disable cell phone towers and essentially shut down the cellular network in New York City,” said special agent Matt McCool.
Specific details have not been released as this is an ongoing investigation, but McCool did say that an early analysis suggests communications between at least one foreign country and “individuals that are known to federal law enforcement.”
According to investigators, the network would have been capable of sending 30 million anonymous text messages per minute. It was strong enough to conduct distributed denial-of-service attacks, enable encrypted communications and jam cell towers. “This network had the potential to disable cell phone towers and essentially shut down the cellular network in New York City,” said special agent Matt McCool.
