🟡 Medium | Source: Schneier on Security
Israeli surveillance firm Cognyte is selling a mobile cell-site simulator called FalcoNet to US law enforcement, including the state of Texas, for approximately $1 million. The device mimics a mobile phone tower, forcing all nearby phones to connect to it regardless of whether their owners are suspects, enabling mass location tracking. It represents the same class of technology as the long-controversial Stingray, now available in a more portable and covert form factor.
Security Architect’s Take: Cloud security architects should brief their organisations on the risks of mobile device surveillance in sensitive operational areas — consider enforcing policies around mobile device usage near critical infrastructure or executive travel, and evaluate whether enterprise mobile threat defence (MTD) solutions can detect IMSI-catcher activity on corporate devices.
Original advisory: Cognyte Sells a Mobile Cell Surveillance Van