Mobile phones can no longer be traced or tapped when sim card number is changed continuously.Computer scientist Fabian van den Broek found that all mobile phones can be tapped and traced when its is connected to a network.
When a mobile phone connects to a network, the sim card will authenticate itself to that network. Unfortunately this does not work the other way around.The mobile phones does not receive any authentication from radio towers. As a result our mobile phones can easily be tapped and traced.
Bank transaction codes and identification services sent via text message can also be traced.
The protocols and encryption techniques between mobile phone and tower were analyzed.
According to Fabian van den Broek,digital security researcher at Radboud University this flaw can be easily solved by changing the sim card number automatically. The International Mobile Subscriber Identity also know as IMSI is your identity within the network. If the fifteen digit number that is the IMSI number changes regularly, then an illegal non authentic radio tower won't be able to track or tap our mobile phones because the identity is not permanent. The solution also allows the user to check whether they in contact with an authentic radio tower. Discussions are going on with GSM Association about incorporating this proposed solution into international standards.
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