GSM security could be breached this year

It may soon be relatively easy to crack the encryption technology that protects GSM calls, according to researchers at a security conference in the USA. Although weaknesses in the GSM encryption technology have been known about for almost ten years, the cost of hardware - estimated to be over $1 million - and the lack of software has prevented any practical attacks. However, researchers David Hulton and Steve Miller say it'll soon be possible to spend less than $1500 on equipment and still have a 95% chance of cracking a phone call within an hour. Calls needn't be intercepted 'live' but can be recorded and decrypted later. [Sources: WashingtonPost.com; ComputerWorld.com]