StingRay devices are surveillance tools used by law enforcement to mimic cell towers and force nearby mobile devices to connect to them.
This allows authorities to track the location of a target phone, collect metadata (like call logs and text messages), and in some cases, intercept communications. The device must be physically present in the area to operate, meaning police must deploy it near the target’s suspected location.
When active, a StingRay can throttle or block internet access for all devices in the vicinity by interfering with legitimate cellular signal
Stingray devices (cell-site simulators or IMSI catchers) are used by law enforcement to locate and track mobile devices by masquerading as legitimate cell towers. These devices must be in the immediate physical area to function, as they rely on broadcasting a stronger signal than nearby, authentic cell towers to force phones to connect to them.
Impact on Internet and Data Connectivity
When a Stingray is actively capturing data, it can cause significant, albeit often temporary, interference with cellular devices in the vicinity.
When a Stingray is actively capturing data, it can cause significant, albeit often temporary, interference with cellular devices in the vicinity.
- Denial of Service (DoS): While a device is connected to a Stingray, all cellular data services, including internet browsing, text messaging, and voice calls, can fail.
- Forced Signal Downgrade: Stingrays often force modern phones (4G/5G) to downgrade to older, less secure protocols like 2G, which can severely reduce internet speeds and increase latency, acting as a form of "throttling".
- Targeted Disruption: The devices can be used to specifically block or intercept data on a target device.
Intelligence Gathering Capabilities
- Data Collection: Once a phone connects to the Stingray, it can collect identifying information (IMSI and ESN numbers), and, depending on the model (e.g., Hailstorm), potentially intercept unencrypted data.
- Location Tracking: Stingrays can pinpoint a device’s location with high accuracy, sometimes to a specific room in a building.
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