NY- Secret Service dismantles telecom threat around UN capable of crippling cell service in NYC, 23 Sep, 2025.

[dotr]

Secret Service dismantles telecom threat around UN capable of crippling cell service in NYC

While close to 150 world leaders prepared to descend on Manhattan for the UN General Assembly, the U.S. Secret Service was quietly dismantling a massive hidden telecom network across the New York area.

www.ctvnews.ca

BREAKING NEWS: Secret Service dismantles telecom threat around UN capable of crippling cell service in NYC
September 23, 2025
''NEW YORK — While close to 150 world leaders prepared to descend on Manhattan for the UN General Assembly, the U.S. Secret Service was quietly dismantling a massive hidden telecom network across the New York area — a system investigators say could have crippled cell towers, jammed 911 calls and flooded networks with chaos at the very moment the city was most vulnerable.

The cache, made up of more than 300 SIM servers packed with over 100,000 SIM cards and clustered within 35 miles of the United Nations, represents one of the most sweeping communications threats uncovered on U.S. soil. Investigators warn the system could have blacked out cellular service in a city that relies on it not only for daily life but for emergency response and counterterrorism.

Coming as foreign leaders filled midtown hotels and motorcades clogged Manhattan, officials say the takedown highlights a new frontier of risk: plots aimed at the invisible infrastructure that keeps a modern city connected.''

 

[dotr]

Sep 23, 2025 #secretservice #newyork #usa
The U.S. Secret Service has dismantled a massive hidden telecom network in New York. Investigators say the system could have crippled cell towers and jammed 911 calls. (AP Video: David R. Martin)

his photo provided by the US Secret Service in New York on Monday shows signal equipment at the location where they were seized by the agency. Photograph: AP
Secret Service

Secret Service takes down network that could have crippled New York cell service​

US agency dismantled hidden telecom network that would have unleashed chaos ahead of UN general assembly
Tue 23 Sep 2025

Secret Service takes down network that could have crippled New York cell service

US agency dismantled hidden telecom network that would have unleashed chaos ahead of UN general assembly

www.theguardian.com

''While close to 150 world leaders prepared to descend on Manhattan for the UN general assembly, the US Secret Service was quietly dismantling a massive hidden telecom network across the New York area – a system investigators say could have crippled cell towers, jammed 911 calls and flooded networks with chaos at the very moment the city was most vulnerable.

The cache, made up of more than 300 sim servers packed with over 100,000 sim cards and clustered within 35 miles (56km) of the United Nations, represents one of the most sweeping communications threats uncovered on US soil. Investigators warn the system could have blacked out cellular service in a city that relies on it not only for daily life but for emergency response and counter-terrorism.''

''The network was uncovered as part of a broader Secret Service investigation into telecommunications threats targeting senior government officials, according to investigators. Spread across multiple sites, the servers functioned like banks of mock cellphones, able to generate mass calls and texts, overwhelm local networks and mask encrypted communications criminals, officials said.''

 

[PrairieWind]

This is really astounding. Who is behind this?

 

[MelmothTheLost]

This is really astounding. Who is behind this?

It will be a state player. Russia or China would be my guess.

ETA that North Korea or Iran are other possible culprits.

 

[bestill]

U.S. Secret Service dismantles imminent telecommunications threat in New York tristate area | United States Secret Service

www.secretservice.gov

 

[PrairieWind]

It will be a state player. Russia or China would be my guess.

ETA that North Korea or Iran are other possible culprits.

That would be my guess. The implications are truly frightening if so.

 

[bestill]

The photos in the link from the Secret Service are interesting.

Sep 23, 2025 #secretservice #newyork #usa
The U.S. Secret Service has dismantled a massive hidden telecom network in New York. Investigators say the system could have crippled cell towers and jammed 911 calls. (AP Video: David R. Martin)

his photo provided by the US Secret Service in New York on Monday shows signal equipment at the location where they were seized by the agency. Photograph: AP
Secret Service

Secret Service takes down network that could have crippled New York cell service​

US agency dismantled hidden telecom network that would have unleashed chaos ahead of UN general assembly
Tue 23 Sep 2025

Secret Service takes down network that could have crippled New York cell service

US agency dismantled hidden telecom network that would have unleashed chaos ahead of UN general assembly

www.theguardian.com

''While close to 150 world leaders prepared to descend on Manhattan for the UN general assembly, the US Secret Service was quietly dismantling a massive hidden telecom network across the New York area – a system investigators say could have crippled cell towers, jammed 911 calls and flooded networks with chaos at the very moment the city was most vulnerable.

The cache, made up of more than 300 sim servers packed with over 100,000 sim cards and clustered within 35 miles (56km) of the United Nations, represents one of the most sweeping communications threats uncovered on US soil. Investigators warn the system could have blacked out cellular service in a city that relies on it not only for daily life but for emergency response and counter-terrorism.''

''The network was uncovered as part of a broader Secret Service investigation into telecommunications threats targeting senior government officials, according to investigators. Spread across multiple sites, the servers functioned like banks of mock cellphones, able to generate mass calls and texts, overwhelm local networks and mask encrypted communications criminals, officials said.''

Can only imagine the information they have confiscated - "Known networks of terrorist groups, foreign governments, organized crime, cartels..."

 

[PrairieWind]

I would be interested to know more about how this was discovered. But that probably wont be disclosed since I am sure the investigation is on going. Do these systems exist in many more US cities? Almost certainly.

 

[bestill]

When Trump and Melania arrived at the UN today and stepped on the escalator to go up it immediately stopped. They ended up walking up, the other escalators kept moving. Then his teleprompter stopped when he started his speech. Weird timing and all JMO.

 

[dotr]

rbbm. wowzie!

Secret Service disrupts telecom threat near UN General Assembly

Investigators say the scheme could have shut down the cellular network in New York City.

www.bbc.com

McCool said the "well-organised and well-funded" scheme involved "nation-state threat actors and individuals that are known to federal law enforcement".

The unidentified nation-state actors were sending encrypted messages to organised crime groups, cartels and terrorist organisations, he added.

The equipment was capable of texting the entire population of the US within 12 minutes, officials say. It could also have disabled mobile phone towers and launched distributed denial of service attacks that might have blocked emergency dispatch communications.

The devices were seized from SIM farms at abandoned apartment buildings across more than five sites. Officials did not specify the locations.

The discovery followed an investigation into anonymous "telephonic threats" directed at three US government officials this spring, unnamed officials told the New York Times.''

Secret Service agents dismantle network that could shut down New York cellphone system

Agents discovered electronic devices in five locations in and around the city that could be used to disable cellphone towers. The system could also be used for criminal activities.

www.nbcnews.com

''McCool said the network was discovered by the Secret Service after the number of threats to U.S. officials they were protecting grew earlier this year.

“Following multiple telecommunications-related imminent threats directed towards senior U.S. government officials this spring, the U.S. Secret Service began a protective intelligence investigation to determine the extent and impact these threats could have on protective operations,” he said.''

 

[bestill]

rbbm. wowzie!

Secret Service disrupts telecom threat near UN General Assembly

Investigators say the scheme could have shut down the cellular network in New York City.

www.bbc.com

McCool said the "well-organised and well-funded" scheme involved "nation-state threat actors and individuals that are known to federal law enforcement".

The unidentified nation-state actors were sending encrypted messages to organised crime groups, cartels and terrorist organisations, he added.

The equipment was capable of texting the entire population of the US within 12 minutes, officials say. It could also have disabled mobile phone towers and launched distributed denial of service attacks that might have blocked emergency dispatch communications.

The devices were seized from SIM farms at abandoned apartment buildings across more than five sites. Officials did not specify the locations.

The discovery followed an investigation into anonymous "telephonic threats" directed at three US government officials this spring, unnamed officials told the New York Times.''

Secret Service agents dismantle network that could shut down New York cellphone system

Agents discovered electronic devices in five locations in and around the city that could be used to disable cellphone towers. The system could also be used for criminal activities.

www.nbcnews.com

''McCool said the network was discovered by the Secret Service after the number of threats to U.S. officials they were protecting grew earlier this year.

“Following multiple telecommunications-related imminent threats directed towards senior U.S. government officials this spring, the U.S. Secret Service began a protective intelligence investigation to determine the extent and impact these threats could have on protective operations,” he said.''

Sounds like another 9-11 plot on steroids that was thwarted. So grateful that Secret Service uncovered it! Agree that there's more being planned and in the works. Scary times.

 

[dotr]

Secret Service thwarts massive telecom threat near UN General Assembly

The Secret Service thwarted a massive telecom threat near the United Nations that could have disrupted New York City's communications.

www.ksbw.com

''Matt Pearl from the Center for Strategic and International Studies said, "A lot of this traffic goes over telecom networks, and in some cases, specifically, wireless networks. And so just literally everything in modern life could be hampered or taken down by this."

The investigation is ongoing, with the Secret Service indicating that the operation was highly organized, costing millions, and early signs suggest foreign actors may be involved.

Experts say building such a system is not particularly difficult, with the main challenge being financial rather than technical expertise. They are also hard to detect, raising concerns that similar networks could exist in other cities.''
rbbm.

 

[LadyL]

It will be a state player. Russia or China would be my guess.

ETA that North Korea or Iran are other possible culprits.

I don't think North Korea is sophisticated enough JMO. I'd go with China out of those four.

 

[tarabull]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1970643747881758721

 

[MelmothTheLost]

I don't think North Korea is sophisticated enough JMO. I'd go with China out of those four.

Actually I do think they're sophisticated enough on a technical level as that country is behind a number of very sophisticated bank hacks, but from what I have read the nature of the attack is one that needs a certain number of agents on the ground to install and connect the servers etc, and it's that that I think NK lacks in the US. The Russians, Chinese and Iranians have enough of their citizens actually in the country, which to my mind makes them more likely to be behind this.

 

[starlightstarbright]

Surely, this sort of stuff happens all the time. It just usually happens behind closed doors at very high levels without the public being made aware. I’m a bit eye rolly that we need to announce this one and make a big distracting song and dance about it, but hey ho that’s JMO.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Surely, this sort of stuff happens all the time. It just usually happens behind closed doors at very high levels without the public being made aware. I’m a bit eye rolly that we need to announce this one and make a big distracting song and dance about it, but hey ho that’s JMO.

I agree. I know MI5, the UK's internal security and counter intelligence service, uncovers and prevents far more threats than we get to hear about, and I would expect the same to be the case in the US - and indeed in most western countries. However, as you say, it makes one wonder why the US counter intelligence bods have chosen to make this attempt public rather than thwarting it and leaving whoever is behind it to wonder what went wrong with it. If nothing else, they may be drawn to put their heads above the parapet and betray themselves.

 

[Elley Mae]

The U.S. Secret Service dismantled a network of electronic devices located throughout the New York tristate area that were used to conduct multiple telecommunications-related threats directed towards senior U.S. government officials, which represented an imminent threat to the agency’s protective operations.

U.S. Secret Service dismantles imminent telecommunications threat in New York tristate area | United States Secret Service

www.secretservice.gov

While forensic examination of these devices is ongoing, early analysis indicates cellular communications between nation-state threat actors and individuals that are known to federal law enforcement.

Snipped
These devices were concentrated within 35 miles of the global meeting of the United Nations General Assembly now underway in New York City.

Photos at link

 

[PrairieWind]

I agree. I know MI5, the UK's internal security and counter intelligence service, uncovers and prevents far more threats than we get to hear about, and I would expect the same to be the case in the US - and indeed in most western countries. However, as you say, it makes one wonder why the US counter intelligence bods have chosen to make this attempt public rather than thwarting it and leaving whoever is behind it to wonder what went wrong with it. If nothing else, they may be drawn to put their heads above the parapet and betray themselves.

I would suspect the point in making it public to let the world know what is going on. I think most will have a good idea who is behind this and recognize the threat it poses. It is a volley in the public opinion war.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

I would suspect the point in making it public to let the world know what is going on. I think most will have a good idea who is behind this and recognize the threat it poses. It is a volley in the public opinion war.

I would question whether it is necessarily a good move to let the enemy know you've rumbled them. When the German Enigma codes were broken at Bletchley Park, British intelligence didn't immediately go out and tell the Germans that the codes had been broken, but kept quiet about it and used the ability to decode messages to create a lasting military advantage which played a very significant part in the Battle of the Atlantic. Eventually the Germans started to figure the situation out but by then it was too late.

If the US secret service believes there may be similar networks in other cities, it might have been better to keep quiet about the discovery of the network in New York while hunting for and dismantling the other ones.