While “stop and search” occurs in plain sight, police forces are rapidly and discretely becoming equipped with more intrusive methods of searching individuals and communities.
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From allegations of nation state-level interference in crucial elections, to massive botnet attacks that brought down critical online services for millions, network security dominated mainstream news cycles for weeks on end. In this guide we will explore some of the key themes driving enterprise network security initiatives, from how to protect and monitor day-to-day activity on the network, to tips on how to defend it from malicious external attackers.
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The tools on offer vary – from in-the-field technology that can hack mobile phones, to facial recognition and predictive policing capabilities. This technological revolution is granting police unprecedented access to people’s lives.
Investigations by The Bristol Cable have revealed that at least nine police forces in the UK have secretly purchased mobile phone surveillance devices, known as IMSI-catchers.
These indiscriminate surveillance tools allow police to track mobile phone locations and identities in real time, to intercept text messages and calls across a large radius. According to some manufacturers’ catalogues, IMSI-catchers can hack up to 1,500 handsets per minute across five networks within 8km2 of their deployment.
At least 197 parliamentary constituencies are policed by the nine constabularies known to possess IMSI-catchers. This information only came to light after police procurement data and documents were analysed by The Bristol Cable.
The investigation showed that constabularies had spent hundreds of thousands of pounds (over £1m by the Metropolitan Police alone) on IMSI-catchers, and that they were using an acronym – CCDC (covert communications data capture) – to disguise their purchases.
To date, the Home Office and individual police forces have pursued a policy of neither confirming nor denying the possession or use of IMSI-catchers. Public authorities and ministers have consistently refused to declare whether police or other agencies possess or operate the technology, despite mounting evidence that its use is becoming widespread.