Any smartphone can be spied on without having to install any third-party software. This is the warning of the founder of the start-up Dust Mobile at the International Cybersecurity Forum (FIC) in Lille, where she received the grand jury prize.

"For $500 a month on the dark net, just by knowing your number, a hacker can, remotely and without your knowledge, locate your phone, intercept and listen to your calls, SMS and MMS, send them back to you or send or call them as if it were you," explained to AFP, Jean-Michel Henrard.

Flaws as old as networks

His company has therefore developed a protection system against this little-known risk of hacking, which sees hackers use security flaws in SIM cards or systems that allow two people who do not have the same operator to communicate. These are vulnerabilities as old as networks.

"These communication protocols between operators were originally designed without protection because only operators had access to them. Now, anyone can potentially access it. Hackers can launch attack commands, they just need to have your '06''," said Jean-Michel Henrard, a former Fujitsu Telecom, Airbus Defense and Thales. On the other hand, the Dust Mobile system does not apply to internet messaging apps.



Dust Mobile, a mobile cyber defense operator, has been marketing a firewall SIM card since 2020: the user is alerted in the event of an attack and can thus block them. It is only aimed at companies and state services, "to avoid protecting those who should not be," said the leader.

Increasingly sophisticated hacks

In 2022, the start-up has raised 12 million funds and has more than a hundred customers. It also detects attacks by "IMSI-Catcher", a more well-known modus operandi used by the intelligence services. It allows you to intercept data or conversations by simulating a network antenna.

"These flaws, already reported by the European Cybersecurity Agency and the global group of GSMA operators, concern all operators, including 5G, even if some have put in place more robust protections," said Jean-Michel Henrard. Phone hacks have become increasingly sophisticated, with software that quietly installs itself on a phone and spies on its contents. One of the best-known, Pegasus, recently targeted world leaders, including Emmanuel Macron.

  • Society
  • Cybersecurity
  • Lille
  • Hauts-de-France
  • Smartphone
  • Hacker
  • Piracy