US Secret Service Uncovers, Dismantles Electronic Threat Capable of Crippling New York Phone Servivce

The U.S. Secret Service on Tuesday announced it has dismantled a network of electronic devices located throughout the New York tristate area that were used to conduct multiple telecommunications-related threats directed towards senior U.S. government officials, which represented an imminent threat to the agency’s protective operations.

This protective intelligence investigation led to the discovery of more than 300 co-located SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards across multiple sites.

 

In addition to carrying out anonymous telephonic threats, these devices could be used to conduct a wide range of telecommunications attacks. This includes disabling cell phone towers, enabling denial of services attacks and facilitating anonymous, encrypted communication between potential threat actors and criminal enterprises.

 

While forensic examination of these devices is ongoing, early analysis indicates cellular communications between nation-state threat actors and individuals that are known to federal law enforcement.

 

“The potential for disruption to our country’s telecommunications posed by this network of devices cannot be overstated,” said U.S. Secret Service Director Sean Curran. “The U.S. Secret Service’s protective mission is all about prevention, and this investigation makes it clear to potential bad actors that imminent threats to our protectees will be immediately investigated, tracked down and dismantled.”

 

These devices were concentrated within 35 miles of the global meeting of the United Nations General Assembly now underway in New York City. Given the timing, location and potential for significant disruption to New York telecommunications posed by these devices, the agency moved quickly to disrupt this network. The U.S. Secret Service’s Advanced Threat Interdiction Unit, a new section of the agency dedicated to disrupting the most significant and imminent threats to our protectees, is conducting this investigation. This investigation is currently ongoing.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Justice, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the NYPD, as well as other state and local law enforcement partners, provided valuable technical advice and assistance in support of this investigation.

 

 

CNN reports that the hidden electronic maze was so powerful, it could have sent an encrypted and anonymous text to every human being in the United States within 12 minutes.

Matt McCool, the US Secret Service special agent in charge of the agency’s New York field office told CNN the uncovered threats could have overwhelmed cell towers, toppling New York City’s cell service and preventing every Manhattan resident from accessing Google Maps.

Secret Service findings revealed that the electronic safe houses were strategically located in a way that New York is “circled.”

The safe houses were uncovered in Armonk, New York; Greenwich, Connecticut; Queens, New York; and across the river in New Jersey.

Though no arrests have been made, the Secret Service forensic analysis suggests a well organised criminal group and possibly foreign governments are possibly involved. Mr. McCool told CNN “That includes cartels, that includes human traffickers, that includes terrorists.” He reiterated that the group “is absolutely well funded and well-organized.”

Speaking further, McCool cautioned, “It would be unwise to think that there’s not other networks across the country.”

On his part, US Secret Service Director, Sean Curran said that “The potential for disruption to our country’s telecommunications posed by this network of devices cannot be overstated.”