---
author: "Eric Priezkalns"
published: "2016-11-29T06:00:02+00:00"
modified: "2016-11-26T03:34:25+00:00"
title: "Turning WiFi into an IMSI-Catcher"
permalink: "https://commsrisk.com/turning-wifi-into-an-imsi-catcher/"
---

# Turning WiFi into an IMSI-Catcher

In a recent presentation at BlackHat Europe, two Oxford University academics revealed significant privacy flaws in the set up of mobile networks, allowing anyone to track mobile phones using a WiFi-enabled laptop, or other WiFi device. The work of researchers Piers O’Hanlon and Ravishankar Borgaonkar shows how to use WiFi to perform the same role as an IMSI-catcher, though their technique only permits the tracking of the phone and cannot be used for the interception of voice or data.

A synopsis of the presentation is available at the website of the Oxford University CompSci Department; see [here](http://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/news/1211-full.html). The full slide pack can be found at the BlackHat conference website; look [here](https://www.blackhat.com/docs/eu-16/materials/eu-16-OHanlon-WiFi-IMSI-Catcher.pdf).