Stingray catches “the Hacker”

Stingray catches “the Hacker”

Swimming the sandy beds of tropical marine waters with their flattened bodies and long tail, stingrays are not normally associated with catching criminals. However, having recently arrested a man they call “The Hacker” in his home for using a mobile phone tracking device – known as a “Stingray” – the U.S. federal authorities are slowly, but controversially changing this perception. 

The Stingray’s ability to mimic a mobile phone tower proved vital in locating the alleged “Hacker” – Daniel David Rigmaiden – as it lured Mr Rigmaiden’s phone to connect to it. The device works by allowing the Stingray operator to send out a signal and locate the targeted phone by measuring signals received.

From a legal point of view concerns have been raised regarding the legality of the device, especially when used to locate people in their homes without a valid warrant. Mr Rigmaiden states that this “disregards the United States constitution” and is ultimately illegal. Officers have obtained court orders to validate the use of the device rather than a search warrant. Obtaining a warrant involves an officer needing to show reasonable belief based on factual evidence that a crime was committed. The threshold for obtaining a court order is much less and this is the cause of controversy.   

Although the legality of using the Stingray remains open to debate, the benefits cannot be ignored. The device can help search-and-rescue teams locate people that are lost in remote regions or buried under rumble after an earthquake. Either way, users of mobile phones should now keep in mind that it is not only Facebook and location tagging that can give away your location but your phone via the signals it sends out.