A network of more than 300 servers and 100.000 SIM cards that could have disrupted telecommunications in New York was neutralized before yesterday’s start of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly session, United States (U.S.) authorities announced.
“In addition to enabling anonymous threatening phone calls, these devices can be used to carry out a range of attacks on telecommunications,” stated the Secret Service, responsible for protecting senior U.S. political figures.
“That includes disabling mobile phone antennas, enabling denial-of-service attacks, and facilitating anonymous and encrypted communication between potentially malicious actors and criminal organizations,” the statement says.
President Donald Trump spoke yesterday at the UN headquarters during the week of high-level General Assembly meetings that bring together leaders of a number of states.
The Secret Service announced that the seized electronic devices were located within a radius of approximately 50 kilometers from the complex of buildings in downtown New York that houses the UN headquarters.
The federal agency published photos of dozens of boxes of SIM cards already connected to electronic devices and photos of some of those devices.
“Given the time, place, and potential for significant telecommunications disruptions in New York, the agency quickly reacted to dismantle that network,” the statement said.
Although the analysis of the devices and the investigation are still ongoing, “the first analyses indicate the existence of communication between state actors representing a threat to the U.S. and individuals known to law enforcement authorities,” it was said in conclusion, Beta writes.
