NEW YORK — The U.S. Secret Service has dismantled a network of electronic devices throughout the New York tristate area that were used to conduct multiple telecommunications-related threats directed toward senior U.S. government officials, posing an imminent risk to the agency’s protective operations.
The investigation uncovered more than 300 co-located SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards across multiple sites. According to the agency, these devices had the capability to carry out anonymous telephonic threats and a range of telecommunications attacks, including disabling cell phone towers, enabling denial-of-service attacks and facilitating encrypted communication between potential threat actors and criminal enterprises.
Forensic examination is ongoing, but early analysis indicates cellular communications between nation-state threat actors and individuals known to federal law enforcement. “The potential for disruption to our country’s telecommunications posed by this network of devices cannot be overstated,” said U.S. Secret Service Director Sean Curran. “The U.S. Secret Service’s protective mission is all about prevention, and this investigation makes it clear to potential bad actors that imminent threats to our protectees will be immediately investigated, tracked down and dismantled.”
The devices were concentrated within 35 miles of the United Nations General Assembly, which is currently meeting in New York City. Citing the timing, location and potential for significant disruption to telecommunications, the agency acted quickly to disrupt the network.
The Secret Service’s Advanced Threat Interdiction Unit, a newly established section dedicated to addressing the most significant and imminent threats to protectees, is leading the investigation. The Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Justice, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the NYPD and other state and local law enforcement partners are providing technical advice and assistance. The investigation remains ongoing.
