A stingray refers to a surveillance device, specifically an IMSI-catcher or cell site simulator, designed to mimic a legitimate cell phone tower in order to intercept and collect data from nearby mobile phones. The term “StingRay” is a trademarked name for a device manufactured by Harris Corporation, but it is often used generically to describe similar technologies.
How Stingrays Work
The stingray device broadcasts a signal that appears to nearby mobile phones as a legitimate cell tower. Because phones are programmed to connect to the strongest available signal, they will connect to the stingray instead of the real network. Once connected, the stingray can intercept communications such as calls, text messages, data sessions, and metadata. It can also capture unique identifiers like the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) and Electronic Serial Number (ESN), which help identify specific devices and users. Tracking and Location: By measuring signal strength from multiple locations, stingrays can triangulate the position of a mobile device, allowing law enforcement or other users to track movements in real time.
Active and Passive Modes
Active Mode: Forces phones to connect to the device, enabling interception and manipulation of communications.
• Passive Mode: Monitors and collects data from surrounding cell sites and devices without actively connecting to them.
Capabilities and Concerns
• Interception: Can eavesdrop on calls, intercept texts, and collect data transmitted by any device within range.
• Metadata Collection: Gathers information about who is calling whom, when, and from where.
• Denial of Service: Can block or disrupt communications for targeted devices.
• Downgrading Security: May force devices to use older, less secure protocols, making it easier to intercept data.
• Indiscriminate Surveillance: Affects all devices within range, not just the intended target, resulting in the collection of data from innocent bystanders.
Usage and Legal Issues
Stingrays are widely used by police, intelligence agencies, and military for tracking suspects and gathering evidence. As such, they raise significant privacy issues because the technology can collect data from large numbers of people without their knowledge or consent.