The Department of Homeland Security confirmed someone might be trying to hack into people's cellphones around Washington, D.C.
In a letter sent in late March to Sen. Ron Wyden, the agency acknowledged it had seen abnormal activity consistent with cellphone surveillance equipment in the area.
The technology is known as an International Mobile Subscriber Identity catcher, or a cell-site simulator. The devices act like fake cell towers, and when nearby phones are tricked into connecting to them, the technology is able intercept all sorts of data from the phone, including calls and text messages.
The FBI, Secret Service, U.S. Marshals office and state law enforcement all use this type of equipment.
A DHS official says the agency doesn't know much about possible surveillance — including what types of devices are being used, who's using them and exactly where they're doing it.
It's unclear how officials were able to observe what it called the "anomalous activity" in the first place. But, the DHS said it shared the information with federal partners.
