Is Mobile Phone Hacking Possible?

Posted by: Aamir Attaa on May 22, 2008 at 8:23 AM

Can any one hack Mobile Phone Communication ??? Below is the series of emails and discussion that may reveal instances of Mobile Phone hacking in Pakistan. I am not adding anything, as Zeeshan (the victim) has himself briefed everything.

Only one guide that i want to add is “Immediately change your SIM once you find out that someone is intercepting your communication. Don’t try experiment with any such interception”

Almost 2 weeks ago, 1 got following email from Mr. Zeeshan…

Assalamo Alaikum.

I have been facing a lot of trouble for the last many weeks. It seems as if my Ufone number has been hacked by someone. I have been receiving calls from multiple spoofed numbers which include mobile and land line id’s. My text messages are being intercepted before or after they are delivered to my friends.

The sender (Hacker) has full command over the delivery date, time and telephone number of his choice and he can read my messages and send a reply from any cell number he desires, I am really puzzled. I have sent complaints to the Ufone and PTA authorities through email but they didn’t consider heeding them.

Afterwards, the issue was taken to TGP by Babar Bhatti, and following is the crux of discussion that went on there

“I really wonder if this can be done by anyone else other than the Operator (at the MSC) or by the legal intercept spooks”…..”I am not going to narrate the details how they do it, as it may reveal very crucial information through which one can intercept your GSM communication”…..”To be quite fair, this sounds like a phone hack and not a sim hack”….”Most of the companies are outsourcing their call-centers now a days and there’s a high chance that the applications are misused by CSR within Operator or their partners”….”as above i would call it inside job”

Mr. Zeeshan mailed me back, with following content after the discussion…

In response to these comments I would ask your permission to let me furnish a few details. I am a student and my phone usage is purely of domestic origin. I don’t consider myself to be liable for the Legal Interception. Secondly, I am using a handset which doesn’t contain GPRS, infrared or Bluetooth facilities, so the possibilities of phone hack are out of place.

About two years ago I received a call from my sister’s cell number, who teaches at University of Karachi. There was a male on the other end who appeared to be a literate figure with an enchanting voice like most of the operators/service representatives possess. He told me that he had found the cell from the parking area and he was willing to return it back to us. I made two or three subsequent calls on the same (my sister’s) number that and it was received by the same person. But when I contacted my sister at her office, she was amazed over the whole situation since her cell was in her possession. I just couldn’t understand how could that man call me and receive my calls.

The same person made me a call from a local land line number a few days later and introduced himself as a service representative of Ufone. He further asked me to let him know three ufone numbers of my choice that I wished to be included into my free favorite list. I didn’t took him serious this time. But when I tried to recall him the number was dead. What was that?

It is for the last many weeks that I am facing similar problems more frequently. The culprit rings me miss calls from multiple mobile, local and international numbers and sends me messages from multiple mobile numbers which include almost all cellular networks of Pakistan. He has even communicated me through the numbers of my contacts via SMS. Whenever one of my contact makes me call or I call him/her during the call an SMS comes from the same number with wordings as, ”KEUN TANGG KARTAY HO ISAY.BOHAT ACHA LAGTA HAY MUJHAY PARESHAN KAR K” etc.. I am sure he can even listen our conversation since short after disconnecting the call I receive messages from the same number that are relevant to the course of the conversation. Let me tell you that most of the spoofed mobile and landline numbers belong to the Punjab region. I really am fed up of this situation and I have settled to terminate the use of a cell phone .This is a ruthless practice of Harassment and no one is there to rescue the victims. I am sure that I am not alone having such complaints. But I am the one who have raised my voice in pursuit of guidance and security.
Zeeshan

    

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Category: Featured, Industry, PTA, cellular, ufone

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Comments

  1. Hami @ June 3rd, 2008 11:09 am

    eeewww… yup.. I racon its possible! I see how people transfer balance to each others mobile.. you cant even pass your phone to any friend..

    [Reply]

  2. jonu @ June 13th, 2008 7:16 pm

    how to hack mobile balance code. mobile reta. recharj the mobile in his mobile so how to hack the mobile recharj code

    [Reply]

  3. s. ali @ June 25th, 2008 3:37 am

    pls.help your sugetion & send email add.titli2@hotmail.com……………….thunk u

    [Reply]

  4. s. ali @ June 25th, 2008 3:41 am

    how to hack mobile.pls.help your sugetion & send email titli2@hotmail.com

    [Reply]

    Rock-Xone Reply:

    Oye Titli
    what u gonna do wid hacking join network mobiles easy to legal way sweety

    [Reply]

    Rock-Xone Reply:

    @Rock-Xone, Do not Rep me mail me

    [Reply]

  5. Faraz Ahmed @ July 5th, 2008 5:30 pm

    please give me the method of hacking ufone balance

    [Reply]

  6. Zubair @ July 6th, 2008 3:47 pm

    I think that is possible there is on thing which can be done. this most probably this guy was calling from some VoIP service in this case you can set the number of your own choice for calling purposes and some good VoIP services do have option to recive the call backs as well you can ever send sms to any number from any number :)

    [Reply]

  7. Aamir Attaa @ July 6th, 2008 3:50 pm

    zubair thanks for sharing your thought…can we have more details? if u ve them?

    [Reply]

  8. zeeshan @ July 7th, 2008 12:42 am

    Hye ! This is me, Zeeshan..The guy wasn’t calling through VOIP.How could he receive my call then?Aamir bhai is it possible for someone to intercept the GSM communication through VOIP? I have gone through a huge magnitude of articles and websites to attain a little know how about this matter and In my worthless opinion it isn’t possible by the means which Zubair has described above.

    [Reply]

  9. Aamir Attaa @ July 7th, 2008 12:54 am

    Zeeshan, thanks for dropping in…

    Yes,

    Every Telecom company, globally, retain procedures to intercept into anyone’s voice or data communication. It is like if someone is operating on my computer, then i can have access to every single keyboard input.

    So most probably, the person who was intercepting voice call was from the cellular company.

    Along with this, yes there are methods to get into voice conversation of any mobile phone users. But that involves high-tech methods, I am not going to narrate the details how they do it, as it may reveal very
    crucial information through which one can intercept your GSM communication.

    As stated earlier, any such victim must change his/her number immediatly, changing the operator may not help
    him/her much….

    Notify your cellular operator and regulator authority (PTA) too about any such incidence, if it happens.

    Regards,
    Aamir

    [Reply]

    akbar Reply:

    @Aamir Attaa, Salaam bro, kindly contact me on my email

    need your help bro

    thanks

    [Reply]

  10. Zeeshan @ July 7th, 2008 10:45 pm

    Changing the number didn’t help me at all Aamir bhai.You are an expert and you may well realize that I might not be the primary victim.Let us suppose my contacts sphere is an infected computer having one or more corrupted files.And whenever I plug a fresh USB(Cell Number)into its port,it will be infected as well.The situation is similar to the links of a chain where each knuckle is attached to another(Like a series circuit).And it is almost impossible for all of my contacts, except a few of my intimate relatives, to arrange and carry another cell exclusively for my being.I am sure you must have got what I mean to say.
    We have seen a revolution in the field of telecommunications in Pakistan during the last couple of years and mushroom like growth of cellular companies is evident. Nowadays even a Hawker can carry and afford a cell phone.No doubt this is an appreciable advancement but only if it is handled safely and positively.We are well aware of the term ” CYBER CRIME ” but none of the common folks in our country (Even the highly literate figures) are aware of the term “MOBILE or CELLULAR CRIME” which is a sound known fact and is far more dangerous than the cyber crime itself.
    Legal Interception of cellular communication is a method which is meant for the Solidarity of Nations and law enforcement personnel usually do not misuse their authority for personal grievances or for any purpose other than their duties.But what about those evil minded persons in the civil community who have adopted such practices under malafide intentions?..Certainly and absolutely, they are criminals !..Cellular companies are striving their hard to beat their competitors but it really deplorable that they have nothing to do with the security and privacy of their customers.
    Whenever a user submits a complain ( like myself did) they usually come up with the stock reply “WE ARE HAVING THE STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY AND WHATEVER YOU’VE STATED IN YOUR COMPLAIN IS IMPOSSIBLE”..What a solution !!
    This is a matter of grave concern Aamir Bhai but what are we waiting for?..I strongly insist that the Govt authorities, especially the higher officials of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and The Federal Investigation Agency should look into the matter seriously. The FIA has earlier established a separate wing for Corroboration of Cyber Crimes.There is a need to set up another wing to entertain individual complains regarding Cellular Crimes…I must say thanks to you and other patrons to pay heed to my voice Aamir Bhai. You are great ,I must say !!………..This is I, Zeeshan.

    [Reply]

  11. Aamir Attaa @ July 8th, 2008 12:34 am

    Zeeshan, i will get in touch with you on email to get more information about your number and other details, so i may seek resolution for your problem by raising this question at some other forums that includes some of my contacts in cellular companies….!

    Regards

    [Reply]

  12. zeeshan @ July 8th, 2008 11:59 pm

    Thank you very much indeed for being so responsive towards my concerns Aamir Bhai.There was a time when I had to confront a lot of mental stress because of this ruthless activity.It was because I was totally unaware of something which I am aware of at present.Some of my friends were willing me to forward my case to the FIA since short after disconnection of my cell number I started receiving malicious e-mails.My Id’s were hacked and blocked and spywares were sent to my PC.Even now,my PC contains spywares and viruses and I am frequently receiving similar e-mails.. But I didn’t go for it because I was suspicious about the inclusion of someone close to myself. Since learning is experience, I was willing to learn as to who did and how did. I am greatly indebted to my intimate friends and patrons,including yourself,who helped me a lot to make the situation clear to me.I must admire your profound knowledge in your field…Thanks indeed for everything once again…Zeeshan

    [Reply]

  13. rizwan @ July 16th, 2008 8:25 pm

    hi every one how can send free sms

    [Reply]

    Noorislam Reply:

    @rizwan, u can send free sms to all connections in belove link
    http://www.sms92.com ………..0333-9726962

    [Reply]

  14. Muhammad Ahsan Aziz @ July 24th, 2008 3:15 am

    Mobile hacking is not possible in a GSM network…..
    Only operator can listen user’s calls or if someone have duplicate SIM with same IMEI, there are some security algorithms and no one can break it.

    [Reply]

  15. Aamir Attaa @ July 24th, 2008 4:44 am

    @ Muhammad Ahsan Aziz,

    Thanks for your valued input, can you please quote some link for the purpose of authenticity.

    I am posting a news today regarding the hack of GSM phones in Pakistan, and the role of Government…!

    Regards

    [Reply]

  16. Ramzan @ August 1st, 2008 8:23 am

    how to make a u fone internet conection.my GPRs is active.
    send me PC setting

    [Reply]

  17. Muhammad Ahsan Aziz @ August 6th, 2008 7:32 pm

    @ Aamir Attaa

    Reference to the books “Principles and applications of GSM” by Vijay K Garg and “GSM CDMA One and 3G systems” by Raymond Steele, Chin Chun Lee

    In these books the description of security algorithms given but not the coding of algorithms.

    [Reply]

  18. hamid @ August 17th, 2008 6:53 am

    i am a new user in this fiels and i wana learn mobiles circut boards and to be a good mobile phone tecnicion can you help me please i am a shoop keeper i wana do every thing complete you can help as you want if you wants

    [Reply]

  19. zaheer @ August 27th, 2008 12:47 pm

    Dear
    i have also suffered from mobile hacking last nite.I was messagig with my friend and some recepted those msgs.my friends msgs were actually intercepted by him.He sent me two of my msgs which were send by my friend.out of two one was sent by my own number that i was using at that time and other msg was from zong no.I am using Zong no.

    [Reply]

  20. Aamir Attaa @ August 27th, 2008 12:52 pm

    Zaheer, sad to hear so

    I would recommend you to immediately inform your helpline about the incidence, and try changing your number if Possible…!

    [Reply]

  21. Adon @ September 5th, 2008 4:03 am

    It is possible I think someone is doing that to me and I really want it to stop but it is someone that I am close to, so changing my number wont work…Is there any way to block this or to stop it at all. I have an alltel phone and that seems to be the only phone this person can track

    [Reply]

  22. asim @ September 7th, 2008 5:07 pm

    i want to hacking blance recharging on telenor network any solution

    [Reply]

  23. imran @ September 12th, 2008 5:32 pm

    So easy it can be happen, its all things be executed by MSC i m 100% sure if u need detail i can provided you

    [Reply]

  24. Zeeshan @ September 14th, 2008 10:48 pm

    Dear Aamir bhai,I have tried another sim with a new handset with entirely new chain of contacts among which there is not a single number I used to contact through my old sim and there is no intervention this time.I was being suggested by someone to practice this technique and it was successful.I am sure there is a lot more to consider beyond MSC’s..What does your assessment say now?..The behavior of my previous handset was altogether abnormal.I couldn’t switch it on or off intentionally and it displayed old messages with the same old subject matter and date which clearly indicates that my handset carries some kind of spy software.This is what has been confirmed by a friend of mine who is an IT professional.This is a challenging task( With Apologize) at your disposal now to find out if there is anyway to send malicious softwares through wireless techniques to take control over someone’s mobile device?I think this is possible since American based FBI is currently using similar techniques.Please share this thought with Salman bhai and other experts too and do not forget to tell me here if you find something positive….Although I amn’t a profesional but you must have observed that I always come up with unique ideas and possiblities.

    [Reply]

  25. Zeeshan @ September 15th, 2008 12:18 am

    Dear Imran,I shall admire if you could please go through the abovestated details quite minutely and mail me back your final opinion including the execution through the MSC , as you,ve stated in your comment, at my e mail address..My e mail address is sambara79@yahoo.com

    [Reply]

  26. Aamir Attaa @ September 15th, 2008 12:27 am

    zeeshan i told you at very first place that changing number may resolve your issue. Changing handset and contact was extra cure that you did.

    It’s very simple, if i am computer administrator, that i can log even a single key pressed by any user over my network… same applies here. Or in other words, if i own my this computer, i am capable of knowing everything that comes across my system.

    Sending spyware software wire-lessly seems impossible, if not allowed by you. But there can be self-executable applications that can be transferred via bluetooth, or infrared.

    I will look into matter, and will respond you with details, shortly…

    Thanks

    [Reply]

  27. Zeeshan @ September 15th, 2008 1:55 pm

    Replacement of sim card didn’t help me at all. Let us suppose if I load 03334231109 into my old handset I receive an sms with the following words; ” If you are willing to change your same number with 03214231109 then immediately call us or simply leave an sms here”…Secondly, let us suppose 03458007001 this is your number and you send me an sms on 10.05.2008 at 12.25 Hrs with these words, ” How Are you Zeeshan?”.In this example your sms is followed by several other messages sent from muiltiple numbers but your message is still there in the memory of my handset(Not in the sim memory)..Now on 14. 09.2008 your sms reappears on my display showing same number ,time and date..Now ponder for a while how is it possible for someone to know how much data is still existing in the memory of my handset…I greatly apologize to disturb you again and again Aamir bhai,but I have learned alot from your being just because of my curiosity.

    [Reply]

  28. Zeeshan @ September 17th, 2008 12:50 pm

    `Assalamo Alaikum.This is me, Zeeshan again.The following text verifies my prediction Aamir Bhai.You may visit the URL yourself.
    All it take is an MMS to take control of somebody else’s phone. The latest mobile phone spyware doing the rounds can be installed on a Java phone by just sending an MMS, followed by an SMS containing a string of Java commands that will activate the spyware. Once the spyware is installed, whenever the victim gets a call, your phone will beep and you can listen to the conversation. And every time an SMS is send, a copy of it comes to you too.
    What more, the victim does not even get a hint of somebody tapping on to his or her phone as the Java commands sent via SMS are configured in a way that they don’t appear anywhere on the phone.
    Some spyware can even switch on a phone’s camera and recorder from a remote location. “One can have a better look at who all are present in a meeting,” says Rajat Khare, director, Appin Security Labs, a network security company. “These spyware are extremely dangerous in the current cut throat corporate scenario. Such software can also shutdown a mobile phone instantly or configure it to shutdown every 15 minutes or so,” adds Mr Khare. They can destroy all data on a phone.
    The spyware is run by J2ME, or Java 2 Micro Edition, a language used for programming micro devices like PDAs, phones, home appliances and sensors. The J2ME commands sent through SMS are nothing but a string of characters which when keyed in can direct a phone to perform a certain tasks. For instance, keying in *3370# can recharge a mobile phone’s battery to 50 percent from the reserve charge. Keying in 112 dials an emergency number regardless of whichever part of the world you are in.

    Most J2ME commands entered via the keypad are blocked by mobile phone makers. oHwever, spyware directs the mobile phones to perform certain tasks like send SMSes randomly, make calls, send your address book to someone else, make somebody else listen into all your calls via digital J2ME signals. It maybe frightening that you can be spied on so easily. Luckily the handset makers and telecom operators are aware of the menace and are looking for ways to counter them.
    According to security experts, subscribers should immediately get their SIM card checked by an expert seeing a rise in bills or suspicious activity like slow response time.”When sending confidential data via SMS, a SMS encryption software should be used,” says Mr Khare. To be on the safer side it will help to get the mobile phone checked occasionally to keep the spies at bay.
    Reference……http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2008/07/25/3567568.htm

    [Reply]

  29. Ali Raza @ October 5th, 2008 2:38 pm

    i think i am a bit late but today i have seen this site :P any way yes i can be done some viop service provide such thing receiving calls etc sms and if you research more you will come to know you can manipulate blue tooth also without sending a thing to person you can take control on his mobile even you can bug him like for instance think you are big company CEO you are having BOD meeting going on highly top secrete stuff and a person siting out side you office with laptop can hear everything rather your mobile is powered off blue tooth hand set used to spy also.

    [Reply]

  30. Abro @ October 16th, 2008 1:04 am

    brothers salams first of all this is nothing like that another thing is this there must be some problem in the sim card I have my relatives and friends in ufone telenor and mobilink and they completed refused that the cellphones can be hacked if this thing is so easy so that the person is bugging the guy around all the time then he can trace the calls of ministers and mds of the companies as well :) there is nothing like that and yes dosri baat this is possible by the voice over ip thing it is true and another thing is the magic card i dont know the exact word about it his sim will be copied into two i think and this can be done with the computer help to trace out the numbers :) and there is many requirements needed like the router we say the khambha :d or bridge which supplies the data (signal) and other network access codes break another thing i have to mention is this for this you have to break many securities man and it is not possible to find a flaw in every security framework :) i hope you all can understand even you can search on internet even the americans have not gone through any this kind of thing yes there was the crime in cellphones like the recovery softwares once i rad the news which says the actor name who sold out his cellphone to the local shop dealer and the shopkeeper reversed its memory card info and gain whole accounts numbers and other stuff and another thing which i forgot to tell my relatives said it is only have to be done when there is some agencies involed and another things you see the movies every high tech movies in hollywood none of it shows the direct tracing of the cellphone call man they break the signals code and then retrieve the data once there was some rumor that dont pick the call from the 4 digit number and when i called my friend from voip service the number came into his screen was 1101 so he turned off the cellphone for the week :p haha nothing like that

    [Reply]

  31. Haider @ October 21st, 2008 10:38 pm

    You may visit regional office of the PTA and they will tell you how to cope with this problem.As far as the matter of 1101 or four digit code is concerned, PTA authorities confirm that there isn’t any such software and that was a rumor.GSM data interception is a living reality and no one can deny its existence.The LI interceptors can even tell you the location of a cellular device within 200 yards of a KHAMBA.You should keep it in remembrance that someone intercepted the telephone call of General Musharraf and Deceased benazir bhutto’s political deal and later on had handed it over to the US.So the common folks have no exception.That which is a job for one is amusement for another !!!Really informative debate anyway !

    [Reply]

  32. angel_04 @ November 1st, 2008 7:34 am

    Hi
    I have just stumbled upon all of this information as i am having a similar problem Pretty overwhelmed by all of this info.. I’m not exactly the techno savvy type, so forgive me if this seems like a simple compiant to deal with.

    Latley my phone has been adding content to messages i have sent to people. It seems this has been the pattern…

    When it first started the original message would be recieved then a second copy of the exact same message would follow.

    Some other times the first would send then a second with only parts of the origional messge would follow (most times the first half).

    Then, after i would send an sms the a second would follow with with parts of my origional message but with extra content added.
    This extra content doesn’t make sense to the contxt of the original message and are sentences or questiion which do make sense for example I send a text to my mate “thanks, your the man steggs” and the sencond text read “thanks, your the man steggs do you want to play strip poker”…It was kinda amusing to start but this will soon get me into trouble, if this was my boss, not so funny. now everytime i send a messga the same thing happens. Also the massgaes are abriviated and use smily’s, they have to be written by someone.. I v=called my service provider who have fobed me off and told me to put my sim in another phone. I am yet to get on to the manufactuer but i expect to get little help form them sepecially if i am dealing with some kind of spywear.
    Do you think this is the case?
    and if so to use spywear (if thats what it is liky to be) do you have to be within specific range of the device? As you do for bluetooth. Or could this person live a millions miles away?

    [Reply]

    Aamir Attaa Reply:

    @angel_04, we have discussed all this in detail, and found that such hacks are possible only if someone has access to your service provider’s network.

    There is no other known hack possible in a GSM network.

    In your scenario, specifically, it can be system error too - which is splitting or cross combining messages. We had this example, where SMS receivers used to get tens of copies of same message. So nothing to worry much, if the issue is only with your SMS.

    Talk to your service provider again, and ask for some experienced support officer. Let him/her know the issue… they are the only ones who can help you.

    [Reply]

  33. Psycho Joker @ November 7th, 2008 4:13 am

    It is not that much easy as you all saying
    All the info … msg n other stuff is in complete coding
    no one can hack or crack this this things… not even operator.

    For Crack msg or Call you need a particular gnu-radio system…
    it is band … up till now only Israeli Scientists Crack GSM Mobile Call Security…
    http://www.israel21c.org/bin/en.jsp?enDisplay=view&enDispWhat=object&enZone=Technology&enDispWho=Articles^l496&enPage=BlankPage

    try this link for more info

    rJ

    [Reply]

 

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