Researchers at Penn State report that hackers could launch a DDoS-like attack on cell phone networks via an onslaught of text messaging and quickly take down a wireless provider’s net.
Writes the New York Times: “By pushing 165 messages a second into the network, said Patrick D. McDaniel, a professor of computer science and engineering at Pennsylvania State University and the lead researcher on the paper, ‘you can congest all of Manhattan.’ “
Researchers say all major cellular networks were vulnerable, and one computer with a cable modem could do the deed, as jamming the provider’s net with junk text messaging would prevent voice calls from getting through.
Study authors said the one obstacle to launching such an attack was finding enough phone numbers to make it happen. But they realized it could be done, thanks to Google.
“The authors describe a process using Google and some search tricks that allowed them to collect 7,308 cellular numbers in New York City and 6,184 from Washington ‘with minimal time and effort,’ ” notes the Times.
Via Drudge Report
