Does Norton Mobile protect, recognize, and refuse to connect to cell site simulators, dirt boxes (simulators from military surveillance devices usually mounted in aircraft), and Stingray used by law enforcement?
Also, does Norton Mobile protect against cell phone extraction devices used to crack locked phones?
Dear Mr. Web,
Upon closer examination of your Post (above), I find your inference insulting. I am a "normal law-abiding citizen" and ... Wait, you were right. Nevermind. ;-) - Art
"I'm curious to know which of those more then likely untrustworthy apps you have found that makes you think you will now be invisible."
Me too, LucentWarrior. Me too. - Art
Hi Robert Dean - Your question is not a "BOLD" one, but I think it an unrealistic expectation to think that Symantec/Norton would be the Source of such 'Tools' ... perhaps a 'Daughter Company' (hint hint). LOL Understand that I too am a Security/Privacy Advocate. So much so, that I disseminated a Program to block disguised Win 10 and Telemetry installations. I'm a retired R&D Technologist with a 50% Military/DoD background, and a 50% background in the Public Arena with Global Leaders ... primarily in Hardware. Previously, I was deemed 'persona non grata' for butting-heads with Win 10 supporters over the deceptive and unethical push by M$ Win 10 in Bleeping Computer, Windows 7 Secrets, and the M$ Forums. They falsely labeled this Program Malware and Banned me ... that was the extent of it. However, the good folks in this Forum did not. In fact, the Program "KBGONE2" still resides here for those interested.
With that said, I can also say that very many folks here also have your concerns ... who wouldn't?! But I don't think that your fight lay here ... 'Flames' are not necessary. The Norton Forum is a great place to discuss such things, that's why I have returned. I hope that you remain here as well. - Article_86
[Robert Dean: It is not a bold question to ask a security question in a security software forum. I am more suspect of someone here not working for Norton who knows too much. Yes, the new attitude is "everyone is guilty" these days.]
I handle Live Malware every day "in containment" of course, and test Security products, this involves a lot of research on my part.
[Robert Dean: That's why there are millions of downloads for Android apps that address precisely the security solutions I was searching to solve after coming here first. There must be millions of other suspect Americans out there. Fortunately, I found the apps to fill the Norton Mobile holes.]
I'm curious to know which of those more then likely untrustworthy apps you have found that makes you think you will now be invisible.
Care to share what these apps are that will protect from the items that concerned you?
It is not a bold question to ask a security question in a security software forum. I am more suspect of someone here not working for Norton who knows too much. Yes, the new attitude is "everyone is guilty" these days. That's why there are millions of downloads for Android apps that address precisely the security solutions I was searching to solve after coming here first. There must be millions of other suspect Americans out there. Fortunately, I found the apps to fill the Norton Mobile holes.
dsfsefg VBT6UI
'nough said. - Art EOF
'nough said. - Art EOF
***"Does Norton Mobile protect, recognize, and refuse to connect to cell site simulators, dirt boxes (simulators from military surveillance devices usually mounted in aircraft), and Stingray used by law enforcement? Also, does Norton Mobile protect against cell phone extraction devices used to crack locked phones?"***
Let me be Frank "not my real name", This is a pretty bold question to ask in a security product forum online. It leads to the assumption that you are asking for other then legal reasons. This said, if it is not for those reasons then paranoia is at an all time high, and you should consider moving away from cell phones and stick to the time tested mail delivery service for communicating with your loved ones. You will not find a mobile security that does what you ask, unless of course, your willing to drop $20,000 on a Solaris fully encrypted phone, of which, I'm still debating what an average person such as yourself would need to go to those lengths for.
I am not an employee so my comments are my opinions.
I would not categorize these intrusions you note to be 'basic' intrusions. NSA and Police tools would not be something a consumer security product would be able to protect against, and it may even be illegal to do so. You have to ask the NSA about that.
And the Military 'spying' on cell users is probably only one step below the NSA and police. They would only be doing it for 'National Security'.
So 'normal' law abiding citizens should not have to worry about these technologies.
A smartphone would have no way to distinguish a legitimate cell tower from one of these very high tech spoofs, so a security program would probably not be able to do anything about it. And even if they could, they would probably not be able to pass that information to the public.
"A cell site simulator is just that: not a real cell tower. The simulator could be in a mobile van sending its own signals mimicking a cell tower and can force all nearby mobile phones to the simulator. After collecting data a Cell Site Simulator passes the data along to the actual cell tower. Police, for example, then store the intercepted data and pinpoint cell phones of interest."
"Dirt boxes are military surveillance devices that can capture calls, text messages, and other data from hundreds of cell phones simultaneously. These simulators can be mounted in helicopters or planes and with that aerial ability can intercept far more data and can track mobile users more efficiently than and on-the-ground Stingray (a cell tower simulator widely used by law enforcement). It is unclear what happens to the "collateral" intercepted data, but documents suggest some departments use programs to collect and sift through data for future investigations and activities."
It would seem a Norton product named "Mobile Security" would indeed provide mobile security from such warrantless eavesdropping.
"Cell phone extraction devices allow police [ICE/NSA/Customs/etc.] to crack open locked devices [phones] and extract past e-mails, social media messages, time-stamped location data and even deleted texts. Police, etc. the play with extracted data to generate powerful analysis such as network maps of individuals' contacts and timeliness of individuals' communications."
Can Norton Mobile users access protection from these basic intrusive and illegal spying technologies? If not it would be wise for some (all) customers to search for more robust protection.
Norton Mobile Security is for protecting your device from malicious web sites and malware you might download. It can also block calls from unknown sources or listed numbers.
I do not know about the technologies you are asking about, but I would suggest that the protection you seem to be asking about would not be in a general security product for most users.
Do you have some reason to believe you may be vulnerable/susceptible to these technologies?