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Jan 12, 2010
A German computer scientist
has published details of the
secret code used to protect
the conversations of more than
4bn mobile phone users.
Karsten Nohl, working with
other experts, has spent the
past five months cracking the
algorithm used to encrypt
calls using GSM technology.
GSM is the most popular
standard for mobile networks
around the world.
The work could allow anyone -
including criminals to
eavesdrop on private phone
conversations.
Nohl told the Chaos
Communication Congress in
Berlin that the work showed
that GSM security was
"inadequate".
"We are trying to inform
people about this widespread
vulnerability," he told BBC News.
"We hope to create some
additional pressure and demand
from customers for better
encryption."
The GSM Association (GSMA),
which devised the algorithm
and oversees development of
the standard, said Nohl's work
would be "highly illegal" in
the UK and many other countries.
Source: BBC Online
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