--- title: The spies in our cell networks description: Privoro CEO Mike Fong introduces an article he wrote for Security Magazine about the threat of IMSI catchers. image: https://blog.privoro.com/hubfs/Social%20Images/Security%20Magazine%20IMSI%20Catchers%20_Blog%20Image.png --- - [Partners](https://privoro.com/find-a-partner) - [Support](https://privoro.com/support) [![Privoro Logo](https://blog.privoro.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Privoro_November2022/images/privoro-logo.png?width=238&height=113&name=privoro-logo.png "Privoro Logo")](https://privoro.com/) - Solutions - [Phones in classified spaces](https://privoro.com/solutions/secure-spaces) - [Prevent mobile surveillance](https://privoro.com/solutions/prevent-smartphone-from-listening-and-watching) - [Stop location tracking](https://privoro.com/solutions/prevent-smartphone-location-tracking) - [Prevent wireless attacks](https://privoro.com/solutions/prevent-smartphone-wireless-attacks) - [Hide from RF detection](https://privoro.com/solutions/go-dark-from-cellular-network) - Products - [SafeCase](https://privoro.com/safecase) - [Vault](https://privoro.com/vault) - [Secure Mobility Platform](https://privoro.com/fulcrum) - Industries - [Government](https://privoro.com/government) - [Enterprise](https://privoro.com/enterprise) - Company - [About Us](https://privoro.com/about-us) - [Team](https://privoro.com/team) - [Newsroom](https://privoro.com/newsroom) - [Media Kit](https://privoro.com/media-kit) - [Blog](https://blog.privoro.com/) - [Content Library](https://privoro.com/content-library) - [Advanced Mobile Threats 101](https://privoro.com/advanced-mobile-threats-101) - [Legal](https://privoro.com/legal) ![menu bars](https://blog.privoro.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Privoro_November2022/images/line-bars.svg) ![Close icon](https://blog.privoro.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Privoro_November2022/images/times.svg) - Solutions - [Phones in classified spaces](https://privoro.com/solutions/secure-spaces) - [Prevent mobile surveillance](https://privoro.com/solutions/prevent-smartphone-from-listening-and-watching) - [Stop location tracking](https://privoro.com/solutions/prevent-smartphone-location-tracking) - [Prevent wireless attacks](https://privoro.com/solutions/prevent-smartphone-wireless-attacks) - [Hide from RF detection](https://privoro.com/solutions/go-dark-from-cellular-network) - Products - [SafeCase](https://privoro.com/safecase) - [Vault](https://privoro.com/vault) - [Secure Mobility Platform](https://privoro.com/fulcrum) - Industries - [Government](https://privoro.com/government) - [Enterprise](https://privoro.com/enterprise) - Company - [About Us](https://privoro.com/about-us) - [Team](https://privoro.com/team) - [Newsroom](https://privoro.com/newsroom) - [Media Kit](https://privoro.com/media-kit) - [Blog](https://blog.privoro.com/) - [Content Library](https://privoro.com/content-library) - [Advanced Mobile Threats 101](https://privoro.com/advanced-mobile-threats-101) - [Legal](https://privoro.com/legal) - [Partners](https://privoro.com/find-a-partner) - [Support](https://privoro.com/support) - [![Linkedin](https://blog.privoro.com/hubfs/Privoro_November2022/Images/Linkedin.png)Opens a new window](https://www.linkedin.com/company/privoro) - [![Youtube](https://blog.privoro.com/hubfs/Privoro_November2022/Images/Youtube.png)Opens a new window](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKPqnNWnZoEMfKJMtwYq5vQ) - [![Twitter](https://blog.privoro.com/hubfs/Privoro_November2022/Images/Twitter.png)Opens a new window](https://twitter.com/privoro) - [![Facebook](https://blog.privoro.com/hubfs/Privoro_November2022/Images/Facebook.png)Opens a new window](https://www.facebook.com/Privoro) ![close](https://blog.privoro.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Privoro_November2022/images/cross.svg) ## Contact Have a question or inquiry? We're here to help. ![](https://blog.privoro.com/hubfs/Social%20Images/Security%20Magazine%20IMSI%20Catchers%20_Blog%20Image.png) # The spies in our cell networks Published by [Mike Fong](https://blog.privoro.com/author/mike-fong) on Mar 12, 2020 2:03:33 PM > *CEO walks out of nondescript office building accompanied by COLLEAGUE. CEO pulls smartphone out of her purse to study a restaurant’s website. Her smartphone’s status bar blinks briefly to indicate a change in cellular connection status.* > > ***CEO:*** > *Let’s see… ahh, I know what I’m having for lunch!* > > *Nearby, inside a large, white van, SPY is operating a fake cell tower. On SPY’s laptop screen, CEO’s movements and communications begin to appear.* > > ***SPY (speaking into headphone):*** > *Okay, we got her.* While the above scene may feel ripped out of a script for the latest spy thriller, the truth is that fake cell towers present a real and pernicious mobile security risk, one that can give threat actors an extremely valuable foothold into an organization’s most valuable information. I’ve taken a closer look at fake cell towers in an [article for *Security Magazine*](https://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/91767-protecting-high-level-personnel-from-imsi-catchers). Learn how these spying devices work, how criminals are using them and the available tools for mitigating their risks. [![READ THE ARTICLE](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/3419919/8b6d9e31-2f02-4b5d-959f-f6a60ed73cfc.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/3419919/8b6d9e31-2f02-4b5d-959f-f6a60ed73cfc) Tags: [Mobile Security](https://blog.privoro.com/tag/mobile-security), [Smartphone Hacking](https://blog.privoro.com/tag/smartphone-hacking), [Smartphone Vulnerabilities](https://blog.privoro.com/tag/smartphone-vulnerabilities), [IMSI Catchers](https://blog.privoro.com/tag/imsi-catchers) [Back to Blog](https://blog.privoro.com) ## Related Articles ## [Protecting High-Level Personnel from IMSI Catchers](https://blog.privoro.com/protecting-high-level-personnel-from-imsi-catchers) In September 2019, attribution was given to Israel for the IMSI catchers discovered in Washington,... [Read More](https://blog.privoro.com/protecting-high-level-personnel-from-imsi-catchers) ## [Time to hide your shopping history!](https://blog.privoro.com/time-to-defend-gift-mode) My Strategy for Defending Christmas against the Internet Titans. [Read More](https://blog.privoro.com/time-to-defend-gift-mode) ## [Mike Fong on Chambers Talks](https://blog.privoro.com/mike-fong-on-chambers-talks) Privoro founder and CEO Mike Fong recently participated in a cybersecurity-focused discussion with... 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