NSA Playset: GSM Sniffing¶
Presented at DEFCON 22, this talk focused on TWILIGHTVEGETABLE, the NSA Playset's recreation of the NSA's GENESIS tool—a modified GSM handset designed to sniff and monitor cellular traffic.
Highlights¶
- Demonstrated TWILIGHTVEGETABLE: a GSM sniffer built for $50 using readily available components (NSA's GENESIS version cost $15,000)
- Deep dive into GSM security vulnerabilities and interception techniques
- Live demonstrations of GSM traffic monitoring and analysis
- Discussion of cellular network architecture and attack vectors
- Implications for mobile privacy and the ease of recreating sophisticated surveillance tools
Impact¶
This presentation gained significant media attention and was featured on the Vice Cyberwar series, highlighting the accessibility of surveillance technology and the importance of understanding cellular security vulnerabilities.