- The Secret Service shut down a clandestine network in New York City
- The network included more than 300 co-located SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards across multiple sites in the city
- MobileX confirmed its SIM cards were among those found
MobileX has confirmed that its SIM cards, along with those from other vendors, were found in the clandestine network shut down by the United States Secret Service in New York City and the New York tri-state area.
The Secret Service announced Tuesday that it had dismantled a network of more than 300 co-located SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards across multiple sites. The agency said that these devices could be used to conduct a wide range of telecommunications attacks, which included disabling cell phone towers, enabling denial of services attacks and facilitating encrypted communication between potential threat actors and criminal enterprises.
The devices were concentrated within 35 miles of the global meeting of the United Nations General Assembly underway in New York City. The Secret Service said it moved quickly to disrupt this network.
While forensic examination of these devices is ongoing, early analysis indicates that the network was meant to provide cellular communications between nation-state threat actors and individuals that are known to federal law enforcement, the agency said.
The MobileX angle
"We are aware of recent reports that MobileX SIM cards, along with those of other providers, were recovered during a federal investigation, said MobileX CEO Peter Adderton in a statement. "Our platform is designed to be easy to use and cost-effective, qualities that unfortunately can also attract occasional bad actors."
“We are fully prepared to cooperate with the authorities should they reach out.” the CEO added.
This is a developing story, Fierce will update the article when we receive more information.