Denial of service to a GSM Network

Abstract

General state of Security situation in Pakistan has deteriorated after 9/11. Most of the terrorist attacks are planned using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Various wireless technologies are used to trigger these devices like Infrared Transmitters, Cordless Telephony, and GSM Phones etc. Recently, incidents of using GSM phones to trigger IEDs is on a rise and Government of Pakistan has resorted to shutdown all GSM services as a brute force measure against these terrorist activities. This creates unnecessary inconvenience to general public who use GSM services for running their day to day activities. One measure to avoid IEDs is with the use of Jamming devices, but they have a drawback of very less effective range. In addition, high output power is required to generate the jamming signal. Instead of using brute force jammers, the idea of Denial of service (DOS) can be implemented in the area of interest where GSM services will be denied to the users. The project aims to establish a USRP based prototype which could act as a Fake Base station and unknowingly provide service to the users of a particular target area. The users would assume to have GSM service available to them whereas they won‟t be able to generate calls/SMS or receive calls/SMS either. The Fake Base Station will continue to dump all user calls and will not allow the users to hook to the main base station. To avoid an IED being triggered through a GSM network DOS cloud in a sensitive area can be implemented without generating very high jamming signals.