Cell Phone Triangulation DIY

[maxtor]

Hi Guys,
I was just wondering and I have been for a while, In all those spy and action movies you always see those people driving around trying to find someone that has a cell phone and triangulating their location. Is this a possible build that can be done? I have been looking around on the net and can't find anything to indepth.

Thanks


N

[tokenuser]

Its possible. Its how the E911 location tracking works for cellphones.

However it works by finding the signal strength a specific cellphone at a given tower, and triangulating. That data comes fromt he towers, so you would need access to the towers to do that ... and I think the feds might have something to say about it.

[master1228]

I have a feeling the Hak5 crew would be able to figure a way around that.

[quickliketheninja]

They talked with a guy at schmoocon about cracking GSM (episode 308). Depending on the type of phone, you might be able to get GPS data out of sniffing the packets.

This article has a pretty good summary of GPS and cell phones
http://www.travelbygps.com/articles/tracking.php

[tokenuser]

I have a feeling the Hak5 crew would be able to figure a way around that.By hacking the carrier cellphone towers? They are good, but not that good.

Please, learn a little about cellular technology.

[Snubs]

Holy crap, crackin into a cell tower? LOL, thats so ILLEGAL!

[davmoo]

Holy crap, crackin into a cell tower? LOL, thats so ILLEGAL!

Um...and your point is...? :D

[Snubs]

Um...and your point is...? :D

exactly

[ravenscroft]

We just put on a mask and change your voice........if your scared..........;)

[notmyrealname]

GSM is broken - it's crypto is now about as solid as WEP and you can eavesdrop with a laptop and cable plugged into a phone (but two would be better). Basically it's a MITM where you're stripping the encryption as, with GSM, crypto is optional (some countries don't even use it, and some countries use some hobbled ~40bit version).

The kits for sale are a little outside of Hak5's budget, so you'd probably have to code it yourself, as I've never seen anything floating around that will act as a mobile base station.

I'm not saying it's easy, but it's quite doable.

Food for thought.

[revision3fan]

A cell phone's position could be determined without hacking into cellular towers.

Simply have two computers be able to measure the signal strength of a particular cell phone. These two "tower" computers should have identical maps of a given area, preferably showing the locations of the actual cell towers, and must be aware of the other's position. It probably would be practical if one or both were mobile.

Sounds like a show idea.

[revision3fan]

Its possible. Its how the E911 location tracking works for cellphones.

However it works by finding the signal strength a specific cellphone at a given tower, and triangulating. That data comes fromt he towers, so you would need access to the towers to do that ... and I think the feds might have something to say about it.


Is that how Sandra Bullock's character was tracked in the movie The Net? The criminals hacked into the cell network.

[tokenuser]

A cell phone's position could be determined without hacking into cellular towers.

Simply have two computers be able to measure the signal strength of a particular cell phone. These two "tower" computers should have identical maps of a given area, preferably showing the locations of the actual cell towers, and must be aware of the other's position. It probably would be practical if one or both were mobile.

Sounds like a show idea.TRIangulation. BIangulation is something else entirely (and something 2 computers would do).

Now, this signal strength data for a particular cellphone ... where would you get it from?

[revision3fan]

TRIangulation. BIangulation is something else entirely (and something 2 computers would do).

Now, this signal strength data for a particular cellphone ... where would you get it from?

The two "tower" or tracking computers, two points of the triangle, are being used to locate the cell phone, the third point of the triangle.

This set up needs directional antennas for the two trackers and the ability to eavesdrop on a conversation. First both computers listen in on the conversation. Then, they direct their antennas in the direction of the strongest signal and triangulate.

The two tracking computers still need to know their position and distance relative to each other. If the cell phone being tracked moves, then the two tracking computers need to move with it. Their locations and distance will have to be constantly updated in real time.

[tokenuser]

The two "tower" or tracking computers, two points of the triangle, are being used to locate the cell phone, the third point of the triangle.

This set up needs directional antennas for the two trackers and the ability to eavesdrop on a conversation. First both computers listen in on the conversation. Then, they direct their antennas in the direction of the strongest signal and triangulate.

The two tracking computers still need to know their position and distance relative to each other. If the cell phone being tracked moves, then the two tracking computers need to move with it. Their locations and distance will have to be constantly updated in real time.Unfortunately, this supposes that a cellular signal degrades linearly and that the area is flat. In an urban environment buildings and obstacles make this near impossible.

There is a company doing this as a service. I tried it out, and it does seem fairly accurate. Try them out here (http://www.themobiletracker.com/english/index.html).