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Cell-phone secrets aren't safe from eavesdroppers
January 11, 1997
Web posted at: 11:40 a.m. ESTFrom Correspondent Kyoko Altman
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- It's turning into a regular political lesson: What you think is a private cellular phone call is actually being made on a party line.
Just ask Virginia Gov. Douglas Wilder. He was overheard bad- mouthing rival Democrat Sen. Chuck Robb. Eavesdroppers also intercepted an airborne call from Vice President Dan Quayle talking about a Russian coup attempt.
So why does it happen?
Intentionally listening in on cell phones or disclosing any information about them violates federal law. But in practice, it's easy enough to do.
In an experiment at CNN, a cell phone conversation was picked up with no effort by a scanner. Before the law regulating cell-phone fraud was enacted, scanners were designed to pick up all frequencies, including cell phones.
"Back in the old days, I had occasion to tune across, and usually in the evening ... the majority of the conversations were guys cheating on their wives and girlfriends. Believe it or not," said scanner owner Bob Curry.
Many of the older scanners are still on the market. Although the latest models block out cellular frequencies, modifying them is easy and legal. Scores of books and magazines demonstrate how.
Listening to phone calls on those scanners is illegal, however. But with roughly 10 million on the street, the government can't do much about it.
"The government can't keep cocaine out of this country (and) a lot of other problems in the country," said Dick Robinson of the Electronic Equipment Bank. "It seems kind of silly that they're trying to stop people from listening to cellular."
American businesses complain that they're losing money, since U.S. customers can get cell-capable scanners via mail order from Canada and England.
The cellular industry says it's developing new technology to combat eavesdropping. But the scanner buffs insist that their technology is just as close. For now, if you have something secret to say, do it the old fashioned way -- on a wired phone.
Related stories:
- Companies give cell phone bandits a new hang-up - December 10, 1996
- Cell phones to carry pacemaker warning - December 4, 1996
- Cell phone headaches - November 12, 1996
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