You don't take your cell phone to the demo

You should not take your phone with you to the demonstration or switch it to flight mode some time beforehand or switch it off completely and leave it like this for some time after the demonstration.

More information

The reason is that many phones are simply seized or confiscated by the police. But so-called IMSI catchers are also a problem. This also applies if you use anonymous SIM cards. Targeted tracking (for example on the way home) of individual persons with IMSI catchers allows a telephone number to be assigned to a person. Regardless of whether the SIM card is anonymous or not. IMSI catchers can be found in backpacks or even on drones. An IMSI catcher creates a fake cell to which your phone connects because the signal of the IMSI catcher is stronger than that of the surrounding real cells. If you are tracked long enough, the attackers only have to check which phone has been logged in the longest. Your IMSI is then known to the attackers. This can then be used as the basis for radio cell evaluations, telecommunications surveillance or other measures. As a rule, you have no easy way of determining whether your phone is connected to a fake cell.

What is this task relevant for?

  • Political activism
  • Dangers in the mobile network
  • Rather simple