Key facts
- Iran's government exploited vulnerabilities in global telecom infrastructure, specifically SS7.
- The SS7 protocol is used to route cellular calls and texts worldwide.
- Iran allegedly used this technique to locate U.S. military personnel in Iraq, Bahrain, and other Middle Eastern locations.
- These actions reportedly enabled Iran to target U.S. forces, leading to injuries.
- Iran also utilized advertising technology for mobile user surveillance.
The Iranian government exploited well-known vulnerabilities in the global telecommunications infrastructure, specifically the Signaling System 7 (SS7) protocol, to locate U.S. military personnel in the Middle East. This occurred in the lead-up to and early stages of the Iran War, according to a report by The Financial Times, citing research from the Mobile Surveillance Monitor and anonymous government officials.