China appears to have used mobile phone networks in the Caribbean to surveil U.S mobile phone subscribers as part of its espionage campaign against Americans, according to a mobile network security expert. The findings paint an alarming picture of how China has allegedly exploited decades-old vulnerabilities in the global telecommunications network to route “active” surveillance attacks through telecoms operators. The alleged attacks appear to be enabling China to target, track, and intercept phone communications of U.S phone subscribers, according to research and analysis. At the heart of the allegations are claims that China, using a state-controlled mobile phone operator, is directing signalling messages to U.S subscribers, usually while they are travelling abroad. Signalling messages are commands that are sent by a telecoms operators across the global network, unbeknownst to a mobile phone user. They allow operators to locate mobile phones, connect mobile phone users to one another, and assess roaming charges, but some signalling messages can be used for illegitimate purposes, such as tracking, monitoring, or intercepting communications.
Government agencies and Congress have been aware of public mobile network vulnerabilities for years and I am sure security recommendations have been made, but not been followed or are not sufficient to stop attackers. I also think no one in the industry wants the general public to really understand the severity of these ongoing surveillance attacks and I believe keeping this information disclosed from us in wrong considering it is our data that is being breached. I do think it it ironic, however, that we continuously surveill China and its counterparts with satellites, yet the minute they do the same, we act as if they are the sole “bad guys.” Also, considering China has been spying on Americans via Caribbean phone networks, it makes me question what the Caribbean’s role is in all this. Do they know about it or are they completely unaware?