Politech: FC: French spies listen in to British business phone calls

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

*********

http://www.sunday-times.co.uk/news/pages/sti/2000/01/23/stinwenws03006.html?999

French spies listen in to British calls

James Clark, Home Affairs Correspondent
FRENCH intelligence is intercepting British businessmen's
calls after investing millions in satellite technology for its
listening stations.

The French government upgraded signals intelligence last year.
Now secret service elements are using it to tap into
commercial secrets. At least eight centres, scattered across
France, are being "aimed" at British defence firms, petroleum
companies and other commercial targets.

Eavesdroppers can "pluck" GSM digital mobile phone signals
from the air by targeting individual numbers or sweeping sets
of numbers. Targets have included executives at British
Aerospace, British Petroleum and British Airways, according
to French sources.

Senior executives have been told not to discuss sensitive issues
on mobile phones, and BAe staff have been told to be
"especially careful" during campaigns for new business, such
as the current battle to supply Eurofighter missiles.

[...]



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