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apienx | 1 year ago

SMS specifications include "Type 0" messages, also known as Silent SMS. These messages don't trigger any even on the phone when received, but they do send back an ACK that includes IMSI metadata. Silent SM, are literally defined in the RFC and primarily used to covertly track user locations without judicial oversight.

GSM, SS7, etc. are massive privacy holes _by design_.

discuss

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ian0|1 year ago

Silent SMS is an incredibly convoluted and impractical way of trying to figure out someones location.

The whole purpose of mobile networks is to track a devices location (so you can route data to/from it!). Of course its easy to do it if your the operator or someone who has compromised it.

WirelessGigabit|1 year ago

I remember using one of those dongles with a SIM card that you could talk to with an API and use that to send flash SMS. Full screen warnings to friends. Only option was 'OK' and the text was gone afterwards.

ale42|1 year ago

My old Nokia C2-01 allows sending them from the menu ;-)

ParanoidShroom|1 year ago

They are primarily used for configuring your visual voicemail lol. Stop the hyperbolic statements.

walterbell|1 year ago

Can they be disabled/blocked on the device, when not needed because the user has disabled "visual voicemail" with their carrier?

squigz|1 year ago

Could you elaborate on this? What is a 'visual voicemail'? What would a 'silent SMS' have to do with that?

miki123211|1 year ago

They're not privacy holes by design, but they're not privacy friendly by design either.

When these things were designed, privacy wasn't really a concern and wasn't really thought about in the way it is now. The assumptions were very different, it was assumed that only large and trusted companies could get on SS7 and those would play by the rules, or else face the wrath of the government. Now, a small carrier in a third-world country that routinely violates human rights can get that access.