4 ms·

NYPD Considers Using Encryption to Block Public from Radio Scanner Broadcasts

11 points by danielam 4y ago

salawat 4y ago
Once again, law enforcement getting special treatment. Encrypted radio use is forbidden for the general public is it not?
- LinuxBender 4y ago
  Many law enforcement radio systems are already encrypted and that is growing with time budgets permitting. Some are partially encrypted like tactical and some use full encryption. This varies heavily by state and county but it is really by budget. The tactical channels in my area are encrypted and I am in the middle of nowhere. Here [1] is one of the laws on radio encryption. More discussion here related to civilian use. [2] Laws aside I am sure there are folks here that could make an encrypted SDR for use as a private intercom if they do not already exist however they would not be able to decrypt law enforcement without their private keys unless the vendors mistakenly left them in a public git repo. [1] - https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/90.553 https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/90.553 [2] - https://woofthebeatenpath.com/are-there-encrypted-walkie-talkies-for-outdoors/ https://woofthebeatenpath.com/are-there-encrypted-walkie-tal...
  - LinuxBender 4y ago
    Here [1] is someone playing with voice scrambling not so much related but may be interesting and here [2] is the P25 project information. Decoding unencrytped P25 Phase 2 using an SDR [3] And finally, someone that agrees with you. [4] [1] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGLRK6D6rgo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGLRK6D6rgo [video] [2] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_25 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_25 [3] - https://www.rtl-sdr.com/tutorial-on-setting-up-op25-for-p25-phase-2-digital-voice-decoding/ https://www.rtl-sdr.com/tutorial-on-setting-up-op25-for-p25-... [4] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhJQkJxRWf8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhJQkJxRWf8 [video]
- metadat 4y ago
  Palo Alto Police Department started encrypting all radio transmissions a year or two ago, citing "Privacy Concerns" (e.g. anyone listening could get suspect name and / or other PII). It is an ongoing point of contention. As if the police relationship with the public was not already tenuous enough, this takes things to the next level of Chilling Effects. Edit: Apparently the PAPD just reversed the encryption at the beginning of September. Smart move because it really was lazy and indefensible from the outset. https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2022/08/04/palo-alto-police-set-to-remove-radio-encryption https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2022/08/04/palo-alto-pol...

11 points by danielam 4y ago

Once again, law enforcement getting special treatment. Encrypted radio use is forbidden for the general public is it not?

LinuxBender 4y ago
Many law enforcement radio systems are already encrypted and that is growing with time budgets permitting. Some are partially encrypted like tactical and some use full encryption. This varies heavily by state and county but it is really by budget. The tactical channels in my area are encrypted and I am in the middle of nowhere. Here [1] is one of the laws on radio encryption. More discussion here related to civilian use. [2] Laws aside I am sure there are folks here that could make an encrypted SDR for use as a private intercom if they do not already exist however they would not be able to decrypt law enforcement without their private keys unless the vendors mistakenly left them in a public git repo. [1] - https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/90.553 https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/90.553 [2] - https://woofthebeatenpath.com/are-there-encrypted-walkie-talkies-for-outdoors/ https://woofthebeatenpath.com/are-there-encrypted-walkie-tal...
- LinuxBender 4y ago
  Here [1] is someone playing with voice scrambling not so much related but may be interesting and here [2] is the P25 project information. Decoding unencrytped P25 Phase 2 using an SDR [3] And finally, someone that agrees with you. [4] [1] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGLRK6D6rgo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGLRK6D6rgo [video] [2] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_25 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_25 [3] - https://www.rtl-sdr.com/tutorial-on-setting-up-op25-for-p25-phase-2-digital-voice-decoding/ https://www.rtl-sdr.com/tutorial-on-setting-up-op25-for-p25-... [4] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhJQkJxRWf8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhJQkJxRWf8 [video]
metadat 4y ago
Palo Alto Police Department started encrypting all radio transmissions a year or two ago, citing "Privacy Concerns" (e.g. anyone listening could get suspect name and / or other PII). It is an ongoing point of contention. As if the police relationship with the public was not already tenuous enough, this takes things to the next level of Chilling Effects. Edit: Apparently the PAPD just reversed the encryption at the beginning of September. Smart move because it really was lazy and indefensible from the outset. https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2022/08/04/palo-alto-police-set-to-remove-radio-encryption https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2022/08/04/palo-alto-pol...