During the 2024 DNC in Chicago, a cell-site simulator was likely used to intercept phone signals, as detected by the EFF and WIRED. This device gathered sensitive data indiscriminately from phones, raising privacy concerns. The deployment of such surveillance technology without proper authorization could have been aimed at monitoring protestors or other entities. The specific perpetrator and purpose remain unknown. Despite no initial evidence, advanced analysis hinted at unauthorized IMSI-capturing device usage, violating legal warrant requirements for cell-site simulator deployment by law enforcement.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/2024-dnc-cell-site-simulator-phone-surveillance/
TPRM report: https://scoringcyber.rankiteo.com/company/2024-democratic-national-convention-committee
"id": "202000011125",
"linkid": "2024-democratic-national-convention-committee",
"type": "Breach",
"date": "1/2025",
"severity": "100",
"impact": "5",
"explanation": "Attack threatening the organization’s existence"{'affected_entities': [{'industry': 'Politics',
'location': 'Chicago',
'name': 'DNC',
'type': 'Political Event'}],
'attack_vector': 'Cell-Site Simulator',
'data_breach': {'type_of_data_compromised': 'Phone signals'},
'description': 'During the 2024 DNC in Chicago, a cell-site simulator was '
'likely used to intercept phone signals, as detected by the '
'EFF and WIRED. This device gathered sensitive data '
'indiscriminately from phones, raising privacy concerns. The '
'deployment of such surveillance technology without proper '
'authorization could have been aimed at monitoring protestors '
'or other entities. The specific perpetrator and purpose '
'remain unknown. Despite no initial evidence, advanced '
'analysis hinted at unauthorized IMSI-capturing device usage, '
'violating legal warrant requirements for cell-site simulator '
'deployment by law enforcement.',
'impact': {'data_compromised': 'Phone signals',
'legal_liabilities': 'Violation of legal warrant requirements',
'systems_affected': 'Mobile devices'},
'motivation': ['Monitoring protestors', 'Other unknown motives'],
'references': [{'source': 'EFF'}, {'source': 'WIRED'}],
'regulatory_compliance': {'regulations_violated': 'Legal warrant requirements '
'for cell-site simulator '
'deployment'},
'response': {'third_party_assistance': ['EFF', 'WIRED']},
'title': 'Cell-Site Simulator Interception at 2024 DNC in Chicago',
'type': 'Surveillance',
'vulnerability_exploited': 'IMSI-capturing'}