Cellphone security?

[Billybob]

Are cellphones secure? About 15yrs. ago I knew a guy who had modified a scanner and could pick up cellphone conversations if he was close proximity to them.
Is that still possible or are phones more secure now? If they are not secure is there any way to protect yourself from being eavesdropped on?

I'm NOT wanting to listen to anyone and am not asking any details about how to do it, only if it's possible.
I'm not the tech type so if this is a stupid question I apologize.

 

[WTJ]

A regular off-the-shelf cellphone is in no way secure. This includes data and voice. Before cellphones, older scanners had the capability to monitor the cellular frequency range. Regulation of public use scanners blocked the freq range, but the .gov can obtain them.

 

[Billybob]

A regular off-the-shelf cellphone is in no way secure. This includes data and voice. Before cellphones, older scanners had the capability to monitor the cellular frequency range. Regulation of public use scanners blocked the freq range, but the .gov can obtain them.

I should have been more clear, I'm asking if cellphones are secure from the average Radio Shack hobby spy not the Gov.,(no foil required)

 

[WTJ]

I should have been more clear, I'm asking if cellphones are secure from the average Radio Shack hobby spy not the Gov.,(no foil required)

Mostly, as long as they didn't 'modify' the scanner somehow.

 

[Billybob]

Apparently it's still as easy as it used to be, makes sense now.

https://www.google.com/search?q=cel...s=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

 

[oklahomawaterfowler]

No they are not secure. With a few hundred bucks you could set up you own "tower". Cell phones these days are set up to use the strongest available signal and does not do any checking of the source. And lastly your calls or data are not encrypted. There is an app for the iPhone called silent circle that encrypts everything. The government is not too happy about this app either. Check it out...

https://silentcircle.com/

 

[WTJ]

No they are not secure. With a few hundred bucks you could set up you own "tower". Cell phones these days are set up to use the strongest available signal and does not do any checking of the source. And lastly your calls or data are not encrypted. There is an app for the iPhone called silent circle that encrypts everything. The government is not too happy about this app either. Check it out...

https://silentcircle.com/

Thanks. Will check this out.

 

[jrguns]

Thanks for the links. Very interesting stuff.

 

[ZombieHunter]

+1 for SilentCircle, that and encrypted IRC and Teamspeak Servers are about the ONLY secure method of conversation left, I would love to see them crack the 256 bit AES voice encryption on both ends.

SilentCirlce is the future though, as long as they beef up their Android App.