🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <ARI.HUTTUNEN.92Dec21003500@cardhu.cs.hut.fi>, Ari.Huttunen@hut.fi (Ari Huttunen) writes:
> What encryption algorithm is used in GSM (Groupe Special Mobile)
> mobile phones? It is my understanding that some single-key
> encryption algorithm is used, where the phone company supplies
> both partisipants of the conversation the necessary key.
> 
> How secure is this algorithm? And how about the phone companies?
> 
> For those of you who are not familiar with GSM, it is a digital
> mobile phone system that will cover the whole of Europe. And
> no, the algorithm is not an XOR-operation, that much I already
> know. BTW, judging by the discussion here a while ago, we won't
> be able to sell those phones to the US...;)
> 
> ................................................................................
> Ari Huttunen				 

GSM has encryption algorithms for encrypting of both speech/data
and of signalling. The encryption is over the air (from user to
base station) and not between two users. If there is a call between
two GSM subscribers, the encryption at both ends is independent of
the other. The actual keys are NEVER transferred over the air.

Some of the algorithms used are specified in the GSM specs.
Some of them are (or can be) operator specific. This is because
each subscriber gets an intelligent card from the operator
which (and not the actual GSM phone) carries the subscriber
dependent info.

Regards

Hannu

(Don't ask me more, I'm not the expert. This was all that I know.)

-- 
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Hannu Toyryla            htoyryla@ntc01.tele.nokia.fi
Nokia Telecommunications (Nokia Cellular Systems, Private Mobile Radio)
P.O.B  77    SF-02610 ESPOO FINLAND
TEL	+ 358 0 5118366      FAX	+ 358 0 5118400
-----------------------------------------------------------------------