Call Security
Basic question about call security. When calling with my cell phone for a medical appointment, I was asked sensitive info. such as Soc. Sec. #'s etc. I was kind of uncomfortable and decided to call back over a landline phone. Is it really safe to transmit sensitive info. over a cell phone? Should I assume it is basically unsafe because it could easily be intercepted? Is one system (e.g., CDMA, GSM) better than the other in this regard? Thanks for any info.
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As I understand it, anything that is transmitted thru the air can be overheard if a person has the right equipment. That being said, a person would have to have an older scanner, or modify a new one because the newer scanner's will not pick up cell phone transmissions, they made it illegal to scan cell phone frequency, but, I am sure there are ones out there that can do it.. Now if you went home to call in the information, I hope you did not use a cordless phone, as those are fair game and can be picked up by any scanner. Just remember, anything that is transmitted thru the air, cell phones, cordless phones, radio signal, ect. can be picked up and overheard from a third party, may be unlikely, but can happen.
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To answer your question a digital cellular network is darned hard to eavesdrop on. TDMA is easiest because it is a sequential technology so the equipment to listen in on it is hard to come by but can be easily found by people who want to do that sort of thing.
GSM is much more difficult because of how many users are on a channel and the channel width. It still can be done by people with the right equipment but not easily and the equipment is almost non existent.
CDMA is the most difficult of all. All calls are on the same channel and carry a code. It is next to impossible to decode except by the wireless network itself.
All in all it is not worth it to try. A police scanner won't do it.
GSM is much more difficult because of how many users are on a channel and the channel width. It still can be done by people with the right equipment but not easily and the equipment is almost non existent.
CDMA is the most difficult of all. All calls are on the same channel and carry a code. It is next to impossible to decode except by the wireless network itself.
All in all it is not worth it to try. A police scanner won't do it.
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I can picked up signals and calls from the analog calls all night long on a scanner. I think at 800hz.
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I don't think it was 800hz - that would be the note A flat an octave over middle C on a concert musical scale.
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If you can pick up analog calls on your scanner then you have modified it and are guilty of a felony. Ever heard of the privacy act of 1972?
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There's no reason to assume that a landline is inherently more secure than a cell phone. It is true that anyone with a police scanner can tune into your conversation if you are in an analog roaming area. If you are in a digital coverage area, an eavesdropper would have to have special equipment to 'decompress' the data being sent back and forth for your call. However, landlines have their perils as well. It is fairly easy to obtain wiretapping equipment on the internet. All that someone would have to do to listen to your home conversation would be to attach the appropriate device to your line at the switching box outside your home (sorry if I'm freaking you out). One thing to keep in mind though is that there probably isn't anyone out ...
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