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Episode #1052 Quiz

Global Cell Phone Tracking
Date: 2025-11-18 | Length: 2.5 hrs | Episode page at twit.tv

About this episode

Security Now! Episode 1052 investigates global cell phone tracking via First Wap’s Altamides system, exploiting the insecure SS7 telecom protocol to locate phones worldwide without malware. Location is determined by querying cell tower IDs through leased legitimate Global Title numbers, bypassing device compromise.

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Question 1: What is Apple's newly introduced Digital ID in Apple Wallet primarily tied to, and what unique verification step is used during its setup?

Question 1

What is Apple's newly introduced Digital ID in Apple Wallet primarily tied to, and what unique verification step is used during its setup?

It's tied to a U.S. passport and requires scanning the passport's RFID chip plus live face movement verifications. It's tied to a credit card and uses SMS code verification for identity confirmation. It's tied to a social security number and requires answering security questions during setup. It's tied to a U.S. driver's license and uses fingerprint scanning for identity verification.

Question 2: How does the commercial phone-tracking system 'Altamides' by First Wap primarily locate targeted phones without installing malware?

Question 2

How does the commercial phone-tracking system 'Altamides' by First Wap primarily locate targeted phones without installing malware?

By analyzing social media check-ins and IP geolocation data aggregated externally. By intercepting WiFi MAC addresses and triangulating positions from public access points. By infecting phones with spyware that reports GPS coordinates covertly. By exploiting SS7 signaling protocols to query telecom networks for cell tower locations of a given phone number.

Question 3: What limitation does Apple's Digital ID impose regarding usage across devices?

Question 3

What limitation does Apple's Digital ID impose regarding usage across devices?

It can be shared across devices via iCloud sync without restrictions. It supports simultaneous installation on up to five devices linked to the same Apple ID. It allows unlimited installation but requires periodic re-verification every 30 days. It can only be installed and used on a single Apple device (iPhone or Apple Watch) at a time.

Question 4: What is the main security challenge Google acknowledges in implementing Private AI Compute in the cloud compared to on-device AI processing?

Question 4

What is the main security challenge Google acknowledges in implementing Private AI Compute in the cloud compared to on-device AI processing?

Google admits cloud AI is currently insecure but plans to improve over the next decade. Google claims cloud AI is inherently more secure than on-device AI because of stronger encryption. Cloud AI cannot be as secure as on-device due to data transmission and shared infrastructure, but aims to be 'secure enough.' Private AI Compute eliminates all risks of data exposure through quantum encryption.

Question 5: How does Russia's new SIM card blocking policy aim to mitigate Ukrainian drone attacks, and what is one limitation mentioned?

Question 5

How does Russia's new SIM card blocking policy aim to mitigate Ukrainian drone attacks, and what is one limitation mentioned?

SIM cards are disabled if used from multiple countries simultaneously, preventing multi-location drone control. Russia requires drone-use SIM cards to authenticate via a government app before enabling any service. New or inactive SIM cards have their internet and SMS blocked for 24 hours on entering Russia, but voice services remain active, potentially allowing control over voice channels. All foreign phones are completely blocked from all services indefinitely upon entry, preventing any tracking.

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