A German security expert has raised the ire of the cell phone industry after he and a group of researchers posted online a how-to guide for cracking the encryption that keeps the calls of GSM-standard cell phone users secret. Karsten Nohl,28,said he,working with others online and around the world,created a codebook showing how to get past the GSM encryption used to keep conversations on more than 3 billion mobile phones safe from prying ears. Nohl said the purpose was to push companies to improve security. The message is to have better security,not we want to break you, he said. GSM,the leading cell phone technology around the world,is used by several wireless carriers in the US. The GSM Association,a trade group that represents nearly 800 wireless operators,said it was mystified by Nohls rationale. Claire Cranton,a spokeswoman for the London-based group,said that this activity is highly illegal in the UK and would be a serious RIPA offense as it probably is in most countries. RIPA,or the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act,is a British law governing the interception of user logs and e-mails of suspects. It has already been possible to intercept GSM calls,but the equipment is generally only available to law enforcement. Regular wiretapping of cellular calls is also possible,since they travel unencrypted over standard wiring after being picked up by a cell tower. As a result,terrorists or criminals may talk in code and use prepaid phones they then discard.
