New research from the University of Minnesota reveals that mobile devices running on GSM networks leak enough data to allow third parties to secretly track down an end user.
According to Network World, researchers were able to demonstrate that enough data leaks from the lower levels of the GSM communications stack to perform location tests on a device without the victim being aware of the attack.
In order to connect calls, GSM mobile phone networks track and locate devices by sending packets of data.
However, based on these data packets, the researchers were able to remotely locate a phone to within a 10 block area of downtown Minneapolis, without either the end user or the network operator being aware of the attack.
All major Australian mobile phone networks are based on variations of the GSM standard.
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
