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By researcher
#163179
Dear friends,

We have a data analysis research group in our Uni, and in our last meeting someone came with the idea of trying to analyze cell public signals and try to determine the brand/type of the transmitting chip. Now we have null experience working with electronics devices or radiofrecuencies so we would have to bring some new domain expertise to the group (phd students, etc). We are now just brainstorming about the feasibility of the project and would like to hear the opinion of the experts here, especially the following:

1) Is it possible to separate the signal corresponding to one specific device and record it for further analysis?

2) The traces which could differentiate between different chips will probably be really tiny and imperceptible, do you still think that a careful analysis of the data could reveal this information?

2) Are there special regulations that must be had into account? Is this passive data gathering illegal even with research purposes where there is absolutely no interest in any sort of privacy violation only statistical results?

Any opinions and pointers to more detailed information would be very useful and helpful so please feel free to comment on any ideas you might have,

Thanks in advance, Robert.
By fll-freak
#163240
Here in the USA, demodulating cell phone signals for whatever reason is a felony. You get to go to a place where they give three meals a day, a hammer to turn big rocks into little ones, and a room mate called Bruno. Even defense contractors have a hard time getting justification to demodulate the signals. And god forbid that you record or interfere with the signals. Making a jammer would be a near capital offense.

Now in other countries, local area jammers are products you can buy. I think Japan uses them in theaters to limit phone calls. Now I would love that here in the USA!

Without demodulating the signal, I suspect that you would find it just about impossible to differentiate cell phones. You might be able to tell how many cell phones are connected by what time domain spots they are using, but not much more than that.
By jremington
#163261
Here is the USA, you can do anything you want, if you work for the NSA or any of the approximately 3,000 private companies that the NSA hires to spy on us. A bit off topic, but here is the latest from The Guardian on the security (none) of essentially all encrypted transactions: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/s ... s-security The Guardian also provided some helpful hints on how to protect yourselves at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/s ... rveillance
By stevech
#163306
researcher wrote:Dear friends,

We have a data analysis research group in our Uni, and in our last meeting someone came with the idea of trying to analyze cell public signals and try to determine the brand/type of the transmitting chip. Now we have null experience working with electronics devices or radiofrecuencies so we would have to bring some new domain expertise to the group (phd students, etc). We are now just brainstorming about the feasibility of the project and would like to hear the opinion of the experts here, especially the following:

1) Is it possible to separate the signal corresponding to one specific device and record it for further analysis?

2) The traces which could differentiate between different chips will probably be really tiny and imperceptible, do you still think that a careful analysis of the data could reveal this information?

2) Are there special regulations that must be had into account? Is this passive data gathering illegal even with research purposes where there is absolutely no interest in any sort of privacy violation only statistical results?

Any opinions and pointers to more detailed information would be very useful and helpful so please feel free to comment on any ideas you might have,

Thanks in advance, Robert.
answer to (1) is yes, but not practical for a student level project.
on (2), no. But real phones each have a unique ESN. Only a terrorist with abnormal expertise could masquerade the ESN.
on 2-2: In most countries, eavesdropping as you suggest is illegal for citizens to do.