Secure Mobile Worldwide Phone Number

[bolognamare]

Like an SSL mail offered from a secure ISP (Internet Service Provider), is it possible to have an international mobil phone number with the best privacy?

I imagine that politicians or big corporations managers use them every day, can i protect my privacy during phone calls in the same way?

Does any company offer today this kind of opportunity for a reasonable price to a private user?

[NordicMan]

Like an SSL mail offered from a secure ISP (Internet Service Provider), is it possible to have an international mobil phone number with the best privacy?

I imagine that politicians or big corporations managers use them every day, can i protect my privacy during phone calls in the same way?

Does any company offer today this kind of opportunity for a reasonable price to a private user?

Without being an expert on this, I would assume secure communication would require encryption/decryption in your handset. If comms are being encrypted somewhere between you and the receiver, then decrypted before it reaches the final receiver, it would result in unencrypted comms being sent part of the distance. What is needed a handset that can encrypt/decrypt so no unencrypted comms are being transmitted.

When you use SSL, the messages are already being en/decrypted at the workstations of the sender/receiver, thus no unencrypted messages are sent over the internet. This is a built-in feature of your internet explorer. your handphone doesn't have this feature.

If you just call a "private number", as suggested, then your comms would be unencrypted part of the way and thus unsecure.

Look for secure phones.

http://www.intpro.co.uk/enigma.htm

Correct me if I'm wrong, anyone.

nm

Edited February 5, 2006 by NordicMan

[LaoPo]

Like an SSL mail offered from a secure ISP (Internet Service Provider), is it possible to have an international mobil phone number with the best privacy?

I imagine that politicians or big corporations managers use them every day, can i protect my privacy during phone calls in the same way?

Does any company offer today this kind of opportunity for a reasonable price to a private user?

Without being an expert on this, I would assume secure communication would require encryption/decryption in your handset. If comms are being encrypted somewhere between you and the receiver, then decrypted before it reaches the final receiver, it would result in unencrypted comms being sent part of the distance. What is needed a handset that can encrypt/decrypt so no unencrypted comms are being transmitted.

When you use SSL, the messages are already being en/decrypted at the workstations of the sender/receiver, thus no unencrypted messages are sent over the internet. This is a built-in feature of your internet explorer. your handphone doesn't have this feature.

If you just call a "private number", as suggested, then your comms would be unencrypted part of the way and thus unsecure.

Look for secure phones.

http://www.intpro.co.uk/enigma.htm

Correct me if I'm wrong, anyone.

nm

Interesting quote on this website (above):

"Simple one button operation makes this ideal for worldwide, totally confidential, high level communications between Clients, Lawyers, Stockbrokers, Accountants etc., "

They fotgot to mention: Criminals

LaoPo

[britmaveric]

Secure prob for the avg person, but I guaranteed not for those with capabilities!!

[bolognamare]

When you use SSL, the messages are already being en/decrypted at the workstations of the sender/receiver, thus no unencrypted messages are sent over the internet. This is a built-in feature of your internet explorer. your handphone doesn't have this feature.

If you are right, if i buy something with ebay/paypal and my email is from a common unsure ISP (like the one used from millions of people) when the SSL is activated (like any bank transaction) and I see the little yellow padlock on the bottom of my browser, it means that the mail ISP can see all the transactions (credit card data included).

Well i don't think that SSL works in that way. SSL use a 128 bit encrypt system.

Yes, if the sender (that lives in China) uses an SSL email (the ISP workstation is located in Singapore) and the receiver hasn't a SSL email (the workstation and the receiver are located in Antigua), it means that only the Antigua workstation can be unsafe, but no informations are sharable with the first country (China, where freedom and democracy are not the first offers to their citizens) from any ISP, supposing that the SSL ISP (Singapore) has interest to protect his customers privacy (for money of course) and can do that legal because its country law admits privacy in electronic correspondence.

Am i wrong?

They fotgot to mention: Criminals

Well, currencies are used both from me and you and from criminals, it doesn't mean that you and me are criminals.

Old latins of Roman Empire used to say : "pecunia non olet" that can be translated in "money don't smell".

Edited February 5, 2006 by bolognamare

[simon43]

The technology of the GSM mobile phone system means that your communication is pretty much secure anyway! (Actually, make that almost totally secure...). I can't see the point of adding a second level of encryption to that which already exists...

Simon

[bolognamare]

The technology of the GSM mobile phone system means that your communication is pretty much secure anyway! (Actually, make that almost totally secure...). I can't see the point of adding a second level of encryption to that which already exists...

The second level reason?

Taxation of your secondary business in your living country (not the matter if you live 360 days on 365 abroad in Los and your business is located in Macao). You pay enough taxes with the first one. Or not?

[Oishi]

Sorry to interfere in your conversation, but a standard GSM mobile is NOT secure.

The GSM uses these algorithms called A5-1, A5-2, A5-3.

An IMSI-catcher would be able to decrypt any A5 algorithm within milliseconds.

But still they claim GSM is the most secure wireless system in the world…

Every mobile phone has an IMEI number that IMEI number doesn’t change no matter what sim card to put in the mobile phone.

A mobile phone is actually one of the best tools to keep track of any persons, be it there whereabouts or tapping into the conversations.

Sim cards….Forget it! In this country you have to register with some ID.

Using a Simcard from a country where they don’t require ID is possible but then you will be having roaming problems on a Thai network. If not, then they will send a bill to your issuer and your ID has been revealed.

Some of you might remember one of the English newspapers tapping in on Lady Di and Prince Charles mobile phones some years ago…revealing the story on Camilla Park Bowles or what’s her name…

Since 9-11 there has been a huge growth in phone tapping in various countries like Germany, Holland and the US.

Yes you can buy some add-ons but the problem is that they mostly aren’t compatible with the add-on device from the person that you call or receive a call from.

One thing you could hope for was a J2ME solution, a java program on your phone that could crypt and decrypt all calls mad from your mobile phone. You would then have to buy that program outside the US since they don’t allow anything using more than 128 bit encrypt system. I guess the guys at FBI…and this is a guess….cant do more than 128 bit.

If you have some friends in the military you can ask for the EMSS Iridium handset

it is a satellite-based personal communications system.

It uses the Department of Defence (DoD) dedicated gateway. It accesses the Defence Information Services Network (DISN) and is capable of providing secure service because it never touches land, but goes directly from the handset to the DoD-owned and operated gateway in Hawaii. Even the billing is done directly to the DoD.

But I guess it may come at a price similar for a small country.

Your best option to remain secure would be carrier pigeon.

[bolognamare]

I guess the guys at FBI.. and this is a guess... cant do more than 128 bit.

Ipotizing the worse if someone (fbi or not) can decrypt a 128 bit communication, it means that any secure transactions on the web (they are all 128 kbits) can be hacked from anyone, i don't think so.

If it is like you say scammers shouldn't use "fishing" to make this sad scams, they could directly access to the username and passwords of any online account simply during the connections.

Your best option to remain secure would be carrier pigeon.

If i buy with my foreign ID a chinese sim card (the isp offers a 3G GPRS service), and i use the "right software" on my laptop, and i use an air card, and i use a voip phone to make/receive calls, am i safe enough from chinese curiosity? Edited February 5, 2006 by bolognamare

[Oishi]

128 bit was as I wrote a guess...to be more serious the 128 Bit has 340,282,366,920,938,592,532,472,206,020,233,786,982 possible keys....

In 1997 a couple af college students broke the 40 bit SSL in just 4 hours.

But if they had the same tools today it would take them over 1 billion years.

VOIP might sound secure and they do promote it as such but then again you still need access to a second part and a third part.

Just see in your post how many things you expose.

Foreign ID

3G GPRS Service

Software...not from any store

Laptop

Aircard

VOIP

I see at least 3 things easy to get into....mostly the 3G GPRS...I work with that :-)

But having said that...and having laughed on the pigeon idea...

Dont think in terms of technology - think about old stuff, like codes.

VOIP is the next big thing for hackers, already we have seen to major US companies being attacked losing 8 hours of trades on their VOIP telephone systems.

Edited some spelling errors...hey it is late...

Edited February 5, 2006 by Oishi

[bolognamare]

Just see in your post how many things you expose.

Foreign ID

3G GPRS Service

Software...not from any store

Laptop

Aircard

VOIP

I see at least 3 things easy to get into....mostly the 3G GPRS...I work with that :-)

VOIP is the next big thing for hackers, already we have seen to major US companies being attacked losing 8 hours of trades on their VOIP telephone systems.

For my needing (online services) the maze is solved.

A good software is done from Tenebril.

A good Voip is Voipstunt.

A good air card is the Sony Ericcson GC95

A good 3G is... Dtac Edge.

Edited February 5, 2006 by bolognamare

[simon43]

Oishi, the GSM A5 algorithms ARE secure, for practical purposes discussed here. If you are a terrorist, then of course resource can be used to crack the algorithm. Some solutions require the use of a 'dummy' base-station to which the target mobile pgone communicates with etc.

But I'm assuming the OP is not a terrorist:) Therefore, the likelyhood that the powers-that-be will go after him with a dummy base-station is probably zero.

So, we should be realistic and not be paranoid about the security of GSM mobiles

Simon

[LaoPo]

Bolognamare: (Ahhh Bologna - Italia...hmmm)

It seems to be you're quite obsessed with this secret telephone stuff.

Why don't you use a good old Pigeon for your messages?

LaoPo

Edited February 6, 2006 by LaoPo

[bolognamare]

Why don't you use a good old Pigeon for your messages?

Too risky today with H5N1!!!

Oishi, i'm sure that you know asian countries very well, which one do you consider safer to manage an online business (no scams)?

Thailand? Hong Kong? Malaysia? Indonesia? Singapore? With the best EDGE services of course.

What is EDGE?

http://www.dtac.co.th/edge/edgeindex.html

A great friend of mine translated the main pages from thai language (Thanks a lot P.)

The first step to 3G technology .

Connecting DTAC ability edge today.

Because of we concern about usability and responding

Data Communication of yours so we develop network as

End to End, The first is upgrade more than 500 cell

site in Bangkok by have Nokia which have signed to

be partnership with DTAC who is only design and

setting network system so that will be all the same

standard ,also improved Fibre Optics Transmission to

have enough ability for receiving-sending more

information ( Bandwidth Hungry Application ) and make

more connection point to Internet ( Internet Gateway)

to get capability completely.

Moreover, we add more EDGE higher 4 signals to

support speed 236 kbps so you can connect to internet

via EDGE / GPRS of DTAC infinity reality.

----------------------------------------------

What is EDGE???

EDGE is receiving - sending information technology by

wireless network speed 236 kbps. Which higher than

GPRS 4 twice.

The first step to 3G technology that help to get

information (Application / Contents ) on your cell

phone faster both WAP and WEB , sending - receiving

MMS , Video/ Audio Streaming and Interactive Gaming

smoothly.

Remarks: 1G Analog ( Receiving - sending Voice) ,2G -

GSM Network ( Receiving- sending voice and SMS) ,2.5G

- GPRS( Receiving-sending MMS,E-mail , WAP) 3G-

wireless Broadband Network (Receiving - sending ability

reality).

The difference between EDGE and GPRS?

Receiving- sending speed information will higher GPRS

4 twice .

Advantage of EDGE

Getting information easily, faster and more enjoy by

as pay as using GPRS such as download VDO Clip by

GPRS will take 4 minutes but for take just only 1

minute for EDGE so service charge as time will

cheaper than GPRS also .

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Who can use EDGE service?

DTAC ' s customer both Postpaid customers and Happy

who are using Nokia 6230,6220,3200,3220 or DTAC edge

Air Card (Sony Ericson GC 83) which support this

technology.

Is DTAC give EDGE service only?

DTAC is the only one that offers this service in Thailand by

you can use EDGE technology reality by have more than

500 pillars signal which coverage all of Bangkok and

connect with GPRS all Thailand and expending DTAC edge

continue ( Other networks: Orange , Hutch ,,.. ) still

cannot expend EDGE as coverage as DTAC at the moment .

How to connect DTAC edge:

1. Just you are DTAC 's customer in any system.

2. Just you have mobile phone or Air Card which

can support

EDGE .

3. Just request to get Data Communication by

dial *1800 or tel : 0 2202 7000.

When can use DTAC edge:

From now..

---------------------------------------------

Rate service

DTAC will charge the same rate GPRS so that will easy

and convenience to control for payment by you can

choose the service which suitable for any usability.

DTAC edge/ GPRS

Charge as Time

Charge as Quantity Information

Normal rate

1 Baht/min.(Charge as second)

0.10 Baht / 1 kb*

The best worthwhile

package for Postpaid Customer

99 Baht/month free 12 hours

(0.50 Baht/min. if over using)

(0.05 Baht/kb if over using)

999 Baht/month Infinity

999 Baht/month Infinity

Already include VAT 7% for Happy only

· For postpaid customer service charge will

include in monthly debit note .

· For Happy service charge will charge from

account balance in your cell phone .

-----------------------------------------

Service Area

Because of we are the first who offer EDGE which

usability reality all of around Bangkok you can

contact the perfect communication both Voice Image and

VDO Streaming with connection smoothly on GPRS all

around Thailand.

From now all of connection will quickly and clearly

make all feeling to have more meaning ..

Have anybody tried it in Bangkok? and in Phuket?

Edited February 6, 2006 by bolognamare

[Oishi]

Oishi, the GSM A5 algorithms ARE secure, for practical purposes discussed here. If you are a terrorist, then of course resource can be used to crack the algorithm. Some solutions require the use of a 'dummy' base-station to which the target mobile pgone communicates with etc.

But I'm assuming the OP is not a terrorist:) Therefore, the likelyhood that the powers-that-be will go after him with a dummy base-station is probably zero.

So, we should be realistic and not be paranoid about the security of GSM mobiles

Simon

I also assume the OP is not a terrorist

Neither am I...more the opposite.

I can not provide link to this matter because of rules in this forum and for moral reasons. But you can do some Google yourself on subject like GSM security and tapping A5 and you will se a lot of shops selling small devices to….as you say direct the mobile caller to a 'dummy' base-station. The buyers of these devices are not governments or Homeland security but many of them are corporate for industrial espionage or normal people who like the voyeuristic aspect on listening to other people’s conversations.

Now just for the fun off it and for those who might care…let’s take a look here at some info on the GSM A5 1,2,3.

Alex Biryukov, Adi Shamir and David Wagner showed that they can find the A5/1 key in less than a second on a single PC with 128 MB RAM and two 73 GB hard disks, by analyzing the output of the A5/1 algorithm in the first two minutes of the conversation.

Ian Goldberg and David Wagner of the University of California at Berkeley published an analysis of the weaker A5/2 algorithm showing a work factor of 2^16, or approximately 10 milliseconds.

Elad Barkhan, Eli Biham and Nathan Keller of Technion, the Israel Institute of Technology, have shown a ciphertext-only attack against A5/2 that requires only a few dozen milliseconds of encrypted off-the-air traffic. They also described new attacks against A5/1 and A5/3.

From this page http://www.gsm-security.net/

[Oishi]

Oishi, i'm sure that you know asian countries very well, which one do you consider safer to manage an online business (no scams)?

Thailand? Hong Kong? Malaysia? Indonesia? Singapore? With the best EDGE services of course.

Japan Well okay then...Singapore StarHub

[simon43]

And have you any data for how long it takes to crack the A5/3 code?? That's the most secure one, (AFAIK)

Simon

[NordicMan]

When you use SSL, the messages are already being en/decrypted at the workstations of the sender/receiver, thus no unencrypted messages are sent over the internet. This is a built-in feature of your internet explorer. your handphone doesn't have this feature.

If you are right, if i buy something with ebay/paypal and my email is from a common unsure ISP (like the one used from millions of people) when the SSL is activated (like any bank transaction) and I see the little yellow padlock on the bottom of my browser, it means that the mail ISP can see all the transactions (credit card data included).

Well i don't think that SSL works in that way. SSL use a 128 bit encrypt system.

No, you misunderstood my post. Read again. What i say is that en/decryption is done at the very end of the communication stream, that is, at your workstation (your PC). When it passes through the ISP, it is still encrypted.

Anyway, if you are seriosuly looking for an encrypted telephone, you need to evaluate what is your losses if someone can intercept your transmissions and how much effort your "enemies" are likely to invest in this.

nm

[NordicMan]

And have you any data for how long it takes to crack the A5/3 code?? That's the most secure one, (AFAIK)

Simon

You may want to save up a few bucks and get yourself one of these babies to find out...

http://www.global-security-solutions.com/P...andTracking.htm

[bolognamare]

http://www.global-security-solutions.com/P...andTracking.htm[/url]

Interesting but i think it's too much for my "little" needings.

Thanks Oishi StarHub seems very interesting, what kind of earning is enough for a decent life in Singapore (without nightlife and fun)?

2-3 times more than Thailand?

How much for a 1-2 rooms clean&quite&safe apartment for rent under the Starhub range (far from pollution too and near to green zones)?

Is it possible a cheap life in this country?

What kind of air card do you suggest me for Singapore?

does the Sony Ericsson GC79 works well?

Suggestions?

Edited February 7, 2006 by bolognamare

[Oishi]

Thanks Oishi StarHub seems very interesting, what kind of earning is enough for a decent life in Singapore (without nightlife and fun)?

2-3 times more than Thailand?

How much for a 1-2 rooms clean&quite&safe apartment for rent under the Starhub range (far from pollution too and near to green zones)?

Is it possible a cheap life in this country?

What kind of air card do you suggest me for Singapore?

does the Sony Ericsson GC79 works well?

Suggestions?

OKay if looking at living there and not talking about security...come to Thailand.

Singapore is way to expensive...and housing isent easy.

All though Singapore is open 24 hours it isent worth it.

Edited February 7, 2006 by Oishi

[NordicMan]

http://www.global-security-solutions.com/P...andTracking.htm[/url]

Interesting but i think it's too much for my "little" needings.

Thanks Oishi StarHub seems very interesting, what kind of earning is enough for a decent life in Singapore (without nightlife and fun)?

2-3 times more than Thailand?

How much for a 1-2 rooms clean&quite&safe apartment for rent under the Starhub range (far from pollution too and near to green zones)?

Is it possible a cheap life in this country?

What kind of air card do you suggest me for Singapore?

does the Sony Ericsson GC79 works well?

Suggestions?

Ask yourself first why you want to live in Asia. Singapore and bangkok are two different planets. I have lived in both. Society, atmosphere and life are very different. Weather are fairly similar, at least it's warmer than where you come from.

Singapore is a lot more expensive than Bangkok. Salaries are naturally also a lot higher.

If you're making your own money and you think you can live anywhere and your income level is not related to where you live, there's no point in trying to live a "cheap" life in Singapore. For the same money, you can live a lot better life in Thailand. Or Indonesia for that sake. Assuming you want to run your online business, I'd look into living in a warm, cheap and friendly country (Thailand). You can't have it all - Singapore is more conducive to doing business and more practical and conveninent but this comes at a cost.

-nm

[Phil Conners]

I think I read somewhere that Skype encrypts both voice and data communications, check it out.

[bolognamare]

Singapore is a lot more expensive than Bangkok. Salaries are naturally also a lot higher.

If you're making your own money and you think you can live anywhere and your income level is not related to where you live, there's no point in trying to live a "cheap" life in Singapore. For the same money, you can live a lot better life in Thailand. Or Indonesia for that sake. Assuming you want to run your online business, I'd look into living in a warm, cheap and friendly country (Thailand). You can't have it all - Singapore is more conducive to doing business and more practical and conveninent but this comes at a cost.

-nm

Thanks NordicMan, i think i will follow your suggestion, my favourite place remains Phuket, even if i want to see Singapore and the other countries as soon as possible (Japan too Oishi, this country give me the daily bread from years...).