00:00Secret Service foils plot to cripple NYC cell network.
00:04A massive illegal tech operation near the United Nations headquarters in New York City
00:08could have disrupted citywide communications, including emergency 911 calls.
00:14The Secret Service uncovered a hidden network of electronic devices that could overwhelm cell towers.
00:20The discovery raised serious concerns about timing, intent, and national security.
00:24Officials said they discovered over 300 co-located SIM servers and more than 100,000 SIM cards
00:32at several undisclosed sites within a 35-mile radius of the United Nations.
00:37The scope of what these devices could do is staggering.
00:41The system had the ability to flood telecom networks with up to 30 million text messages per minute, officials said.
00:47In the wrong hands, it could have meant no texts, no calls, and no way to reach 911 for millions of people.
00:54Secret Service director Sean Curran warned the country was vulnerable to a potential communications breakdown.
01:00The potential for disruption to our country's telecommunications posed by this network of devices cannot be overstated, he said.
01:07What's especially troubling is that this entire system was discovered just as security around New York City
01:13was being ramped up for the annual gathering of global leaders.
01:16The timing, described as critical by Special Agent Matt McCool, highlighted the potential catastrophic impact if combined with another UNGA event.
01:26Investigators traced the network back to a probe beginning in spring following telecom threats to senior U.S. officials.
01:33Raids revealed over 100,000 activated SIM cards with thousands more ready for use.
01:38Though no direct UN General Assembly threat was identified, the system's suspected use by foreign actors for sending encrypted communications to organized crime and terror groups demanded its shutdown.
01:50McCool noted the ongoing need for forensics on vast communication data.
01:55While arrests remain undisclosed, no current threat to New York City exists, officials assure.
02:00Still, the scale and placement of the devices, so close to a major international event, raise serious questions.
02:08How long has this network been operating?
02:10Who knew about it?
02:12And what else might it have been capable of?
02:14For now, the only clear answer is that this operation was stopped just in time.
Be the first to comment