The U.S. Secret Service has recently dismantled a network of electronic devices capable of disrupting New York City’s cellular network.

The equipment, found at multiple locations across the tri-state area (New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut), included 300 co-located SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards. According to a statement released on September 23, these devices were linked to telecommunications-related threats targeting senior U.S. government officials.

Authorities reported that the devices could have been used to disable cell towers, conduct denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, and enable anonymous, encrypted communications between potential threat actors and criminal organizations.

The seized equipment was located within 35 miles of the United Nations General Assembly, scheduled to take place in New York City. Due to the high risk of disruption, the Secret Service acted quickly to neutralize the network and prevent significant telecom outages in the city.

The operation was led by the Advanced Threat Interdiction Unit, a newly established division tasked with intercepting and dismantling the most critical and imminent threats to U.S. citizens.

While the investigation is ongoing, initial findings suggest that state-sponsored actors may have been in contact with individuals already identified by federal authorities. Sean Curran, Director of the U.S. Secret Service, emphasized that the potential for disruption posed by this network of devices “cannot be overstated.”

He also highlighted that this action sends a clear message to potential malicious actors: any imminent threat to protected individuals will be investigated, tracked, and neutralized immediately.

The Secret Service is collaborating with several federal and local agencies on this investigation, including Homeland Security Investigations (DHS), the Department of Justice (DoJ), the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), and the New York Police Department (NYPD).

Source: https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/cell-tower-hacking-gear-seized-nyc