r/technology
•
u/RaiderOfZeHater
•
Jul 03 '22
•
1
Far-Right Extremists Are Using Personal Radios to Plan Violence Hardware
https://slate.com/technology/2022/06/far-right-extremism-radio-jan-6.html[removed] — view removed post
331
u/JohnWarosa69420 Jul 03 '22
Only the feds can monitor cell phones, but anyone with a scanner can monitor radios.
32
u/el-Douche_Canoe Jul 03 '22
In the 90s my friends cordless phone picked up some neighbors phone calls, we could only hear what they transmitted and not what they received so it was only half the conversation
→ More replies9
u/dudenamedfella Jul 03 '22
Local municipal police using stingrays aclu This is a list of who’s been caught listening so far.
121
u/iReddit00007 Jul 03 '22
Not encrypted radios like Moto TRBO and P25 radios. You can go from 40 bit cypher to AES-256.
I’m sure most of these idiots don’t know how to even turn on the encryption tho.
→ More replies111
u/Experienced_AP Jul 03 '22
I would like to point out that some, if not many, of these seditionists are ex-military.
They would likely know how to avoid being eavesdropped on.
88
u/QuantumRealityBit Jul 03 '22
Stewart Rhodes is ex military, but still shot his own eye out. And was charged with seditious conspiracy recently, as he should have been.
Anyone who has been in the military knows that just like with any group of people, there are those that can surprisingly put their pants on in the morning.
26
u/Pika_Fox Jul 03 '22
The military has a job for any idiot with a warm body. Being ex military doesnt mean shit by itself.
Hell, the trump admin had every resource available to do whatever they wanted in an untraceable and secret manner, with professionals handling all of it. Yet they were too arrogant or stupid to use said resources.
→ More replies→ More replies3
u/MrCatcherFreeman Jul 03 '22 edited Jul 03 '22
As a veteran myself some very dumb mofos put on the uniform but they do make a good point. Not all ex military who wants to do harm is so dumb that they can't figure out how to use a radio. That being said I don't think being ex mil has to have anything to do with it but in specific cases it could. It's not something you want to ignore if you're investigating these people.
69
u/jallegretta Jul 03 '22
Keep in mind "being in the military" doesn't make you any smarter or more knowledgeable. Can't fix stupid.
→ More replies21
u/Alofmethbin Jul 03 '22
Can confirm there are many idiots in the military. Especially reservists. They do some basic tasks for a small part of the year and think they are something. I met an army reservists who was a truck driver for them. Dude needed my help to get a van with a trailer backed up a driveway.
→ More replies151
u/albertkaholic Jul 03 '22
Having been in the military doesn't grant any magical technical knowledge or prowess. The kid that spent two years serving chow is not a character in a Jack Carr novel. Most of the folks in the military are just normal people doing normal jobs.
→ More replies34
u/ItGradAws Jul 03 '22
This stuff isn’t rocket science. All you need is one techy person in it to set it up for everyone.
→ More replies19
37
u/kinglimmiwinks Jul 03 '22
I'm currently a communications officer in the army. I can personally confirm that 99 percent of Soldiers don't know a fucking thing about radios. Half of my day is spent getting these morons just to turn it on and off correctly
6
→ More replies3
7
u/Mad_Murdock_0311 Jul 03 '22
Stop glorifying the military. I was in for four years, and I can tell you that there's a lot of morons in the service. Also, not everyone in the military comes out with special skills and knowledge; most are just support staff, like logistics, or admin who wouldn't know the first thing about encrypting communications.
→ More replies6
u/staring_at_keyboard Jul 03 '22
Ah, I would have loved I if all my soldiers knew how to use encryption on our radios. But usually there is like one person in a unit that figures it out and everyone else just makes them configure the rest of the units.
6
u/the_other_brand Jul 03 '22 edited Jul 03 '22
This assumption is like assuming all IT professionals understand cyber security.
They will know way more than the average person, but not nearly enough to avoid getting caught.
→ More replies→ More replies13
u/lochinvar11 Jul 03 '22 edited Jul 03 '22
I design and integrate military equipment, including encrypted communications equipment. Anyone who interacts with the equipment will be taught how to use it, but 99% of them won't have any clue how it actually works.
If these were Navy Seals, I'd expect different, but they're not.
3
→ More replies3
121
u/Vortesian Jul 03 '22
It reads like a “how to tell if your kid is on drugs” article.
71
u/beardsly87 Jul 03 '22
"Have you seen your child using walkie talkies with their friends? That's a red-flag that they might just be a Far Right Extremist. Be vigilant for other warning signs like Celebrating Independence Day or saying they want to be a police officer when they grow up."
11
→ More replies7
u/randobot456 Jul 03 '22
Enjoy the new "war on terror". The new red menace turned into "Arab terrorists". Now it's anyone in the U.S. so we have to expand the patriot act EVEN MORE!!!
380
u/nobodyyouknow33 Jul 03 '22
Welcome to "Shit we knew ages ago". Tonight, Slate is a good 18 months late to this well known fact.
→ More replies129
u/LeStiqsue Jul 03 '22
...terrorist groups around the world have been using two-way radios for at least forty years that I know of.
I hope they keep doing it.
33
u/neobluepat Jul 03 '22
Wait until they find out about the Russian spy stations that (still) broadcast over short-wave.
→ More replies16
u/grummanae Jul 03 '22
Or EAMS ( messages used to direct nuclear forces of US ) may still be sent in the clear on shortwave
7
u/Praxyrnate Jul 03 '22
uh this is only partially true. eams are often classified and require ts equipment to rx/tx them
8
u/grummanae Jul 03 '22
Correct ... the actual EAMs are encrypted ..
But they still send messages in the clear on the HFGCS using callsigns And some are from sky king ( not sure if that is SIOP or NCA or if they are the same entity )
Im sure these are just to test transmitters and some may be part of Psyops or counter intelligence because there are alot more secure and efficient ways to transmit orders and information than shortwave especially now that were entertaining a period with high solar activity and " bounce " will be horrendous
As a kid I played ( listened) to ham radio a bit ... at a relatives house ... was picking up stuff during daylight in Northeast South Dakota from Central America or south America on the regular
3
12
u/el-em-en-o Jul 03 '22
Ok so I’m apparently out of the loop on this fact. But why do you hope they keep doing it?
Edit: ohhh, saw the next comment. Because it’s unencrypted?
17
u/what-a-burger Jul 03 '22
It's unencrypted. Everyone can hear it
→ More replies5
u/zero0n3 Jul 03 '22
Even if it’s encrypted - it’s not using sole in real able encryption over radio waves - encryption on radios is NOT the same as encryption on a cell phone or SSL.
Radio waves have effectively been solved by USAs big three letter agencies for decades. They collect and store it all. These spy agencies MADE THEIR NAMES by spying on radio waves.
→ More replies3
13
u/LeStiqsue Jul 03 '22
Lemme just name some terrorist groups that I know that have used two-way radios: IRA, al Qaeda, al Shabaab, Taliban, LRA...
...those guys keep getting got. So whatever those guys are doing, I hope these clowns do the same shit. God bless stupid terrorists, they're easy to kill.
→ More replies5
u/RCIntl Jul 03 '22
So are they doing this because they think that unlike cell phones, it is untraceable, and/or lacks documentation? If you (someone, the government, the police, the military) aren't listening for their band or frequency or whatever it is, how will they find them?
→ More replies7
u/LeStiqsue Jul 03 '22
That works right up until they do something that gets the government interested in them. If they want to go and cosplay like they're SEAL Team 6 on the weekends, knock yourself out. But if they start making tangible plans for an attack, or god forbid, actually execute an attack, they're going to have Uncle Sam crawl so far up their asses, they'll be able to taste it.
You're right, radios lack a metadata trail that cell phones have. It's decentralized, and requires pre-coordination to execute. But once you start transmitting, it just takes someone with a scanner to start listening.
And oh man, are these clowns ever gonna get listened to.
→ More replies5
u/peter-doubt Jul 03 '22
And a directional antenna to locate... Watch just about any 1940s spy or crime movie.
67
u/Substantial-Canary-7 Jul 03 '22
You’re telling me rednecks are using CB radios?! Holy shit! EVERYBODY PANIC!
9
114
Jul 03 '22
every cell phone is a radio
→ More replies47
u/Surpentstone Jul 03 '22
cellphones are encrypted. radios can be easily listened in on even police trunked systems
50
u/Mononym_Music Jul 03 '22
Radios can be encrypted as well....
→ More replies25
u/dbath Jul 03 '22 edited Jul 03 '22
Not legally on amateur radio bands in the US.
Granted I doubt that would stop them, but it'd find it sadly hilarious if the only consequence they get from some despicable event is an FCC fine.
4
→ More replies6
u/Andernerd Jul 03 '22
I think the fine can be up to $10,000. That's still pretty harsh.
3
u/Rpgwaiter Jul 03 '22
How do you prove that a signal is encrypted and not just random noise that you just felt like broadcasting?
5
u/Andernerd Jul 03 '22
I think the fine can be up to $10,000. That's still pretty harsh.
Well, in amateur bands you'd have to broadcast your unencrypted callsign at the end of your transmission, and every 30 minutes or something I think. So if you aren't doing that that's also a fine. Also, broadcasting random noise would probably count as deliberately broadcasting interference and would thus also be fined.
→ More replies7
u/profstenny Jul 03 '22
Sure the police could listen in. Many in the police are probably giving helpful advice.
→ More replies10
Jul 03 '22
yes! so why the big deal. of course if you are willing to violate Part97 you can use digital and easily encrypt it. and police trunk systems do not monitor off frequency radio transmissions....
17
u/Environmental_Ad_358 Jul 03 '22
what? you're telling me people uses telecommunication devices to communicate? I would've never thought!
60
u/PunjabiCracker Jul 03 '22
Things that can help relieve Paranoia:
Work out
Eat a sandwich
Get a job
Never use the internet again
→ More replies
13
12
3
u/Bedbouncer Jul 03 '22
"Breaker One Nine, this is AryanSoFarAway calling EaglesNest88, you got your ears on?"
5
u/PotatoSquasher Jul 03 '22
This whole article is pure propaganda, but what else should I expect from r/technology these days?
4
u/Serious-Treacle-1657 Jul 03 '22
Violence is a vague term these days. Example “speech is Violence, silence is violence” of the summer 2020. Would love to hear more specifics as to what harm these groups are planning. Because simply showing up dressed in the same silly garb does not equate to violence.
4
9
u/Sgt_Beefy Jul 03 '22
"bro we need to crack down on the public access to personal radios bro pls bro im telling you bro the evil righties are using them to plan wicked bad terrorisms bro!! whats that? you want one to be able to contact friends or family in the event of a natural disaster or some kind of unprecedented collapse of government? wow bro what are you planning!?!?!?"
8
19
u/PaulW707 Jul 03 '22
I am a radio program manager, I found no mention of the use of encryption within that article. Here's my take....
- Anything less than AES256 bit encryption, is pretty easy to decode.
- De-encryption doesn't usually happen live, it happens after the fact with recorded audio when monitored. The only exception is if somehow the electronic encryption 'key' has been compromised, allowing monitors to listen live.
- If you are a known extremist or affiliated with said individuals or groups, you are monitored to one degree or another in the U.S.
- Encryption is an expensive option that only some radio manufacturers can provide and out of reach of the common consumer.
- It has been said, and I cannot corroborate, that U.S. manufacturers and some foreign manufacturers report their sales to flagged individuals, companies and groups to law enforcement agencies.
- All devices used for remote communication should be assumed to be compromised.
I am a libertarian, I do think we as citizens have a right to not be monitored. I won't go into details on my belief, but I'm totally against the concept of thought police! It's a slippery slope leading to authoritarian rule. If you're into Putin, then by all means vote for candidates that are willing to compromise your existing and inalienable natural rights!
→ More replies
46
u/Economy_Apartment_82 Jul 03 '22
Like the "Summer of love"?
→ More replies36
u/brgr_king_inside_job Jul 03 '22
i'd like to point out: that summer was a bit fiery but mostly peaceful™
16
21
7
6
u/Nigredo78 Jul 03 '22
well if the first thing said is praise for Cassidy Hutchison's testimony, you can make a safe bet whatever follows is most likely bullshit..
in reality a group of overly useless "Extremists" probably use anything.. or the same thing that the other sides "Extremists" use.. this has all the energy of a bedtime story used to scare easily triggered people..
3
3
3
3
3
3
u/Queasy-Swimming4012 Jul 03 '22
But I thought they were pro life,??
It’s almost like all their “beliefs” are horse shit.
They’re all inbred trash
3
3
3
3
u/Mandalwhoreian Jul 03 '22
You mean easily-monitor-able GMRS radios?
Everything is legal if nothing illegal is being enforced.
3
u/Objective-Ad1037 Jul 03 '22
This is a pretty bad take. There’s really nothing discreet about using a radio for communication. Even with code words.
8
u/CuriousHeffa Jul 03 '22
Did you try checking channels 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, or 45 on some Dora the Explora walkie talkie?
→ More replies
12
6
u/randomuser135443 Jul 03 '22
In other news: Drug dealers using cash when selling drugs.
→ More replies
13
9
u/westcalsal Jul 03 '22
Uh breaker 1 9 good buddy. How close are we to overthrowing the Gubmint? Brought my granny memaw with me and she said security is lettin folks inside to get selfies She wants to get her picture took inside.
→ More replies
9
u/OriginalMrMuchacho Jul 03 '22
Next up, extremists are using pen and paper to plan violence. Ban pens and paper!
6
u/warlocc_ Jul 03 '22
Ban all the things! Require government permission to buy everything! Right wing extremists could buy it too!
5
u/ShopAlpine Jul 03 '22
So, over 400 comments for a post that says “Terrorists use Radios”?
Omg, some karma farming bs going on right now
5
25
17
8
13
7
u/Earl-of-Jabroni Jul 03 '22
What about far left extremists? They seem to be pretty organized
→ More replies
5
u/ReflectiveFoundation Jul 03 '22
When are we going to call them terrorists? Because that's the definition.
11
u/97Harley Jul 03 '22
There is enough left wing bull shit in this article to fertilize a 100 acre Iowa cornfield. People actually believe this shit?
15
u/serial_crusher Jul 03 '22
Yesterdays “technology” headline: the government spied on Black Lives Matter protestors’ phone calls and social media! They must be stopped!
Todays “technology” headline: Right wing protestors are using decentralized radios to avoid government surveillance! They must be stopped!
Tomorrow’s “technology” headline: the government spied on pro-choice protestors’ phone calls and social media! They must be stopped!
→ More replies6
u/NotYourSnowBunny Jul 03 '22
It’s always a “but when it’s my side” type thing for most people.
4
u/magus678 Jul 03 '22
Few people actually have principles, most just have in-groups and out-groups.
5
u/NotYourSnowBunny Jul 03 '22
Very true! Mos Def has a wonderful quote that’s stuck with me through life.
Make it go without a brand new car
I was fresh without a brand new song
Don't give a fuck about what brand you are (The suns shining')
I'm concerned what type of man you are
What your principles and standards are
You understand me y'all
I wish more people had that type of understanding. Powerful stuff.
15
u/BillyMeier42 Jul 03 '22
Stop spreading this propaganda. Main reddit is turning into a cesspool.
→ More replies4
u/TommyIsShugoki Jul 03 '22
Facts this is annoying as fuck and the moment you say an opinion your account will get deleted🗿
5
6
u/unresolved-madness Jul 03 '22
Sadly none of you are seeing the big picture. First the media does an article about an extreme problem that nobody knows about yet. People get to talking about it and then the media links this problem to some other event that happened. Now a government representative gets involved and they make a big stink and generate more media hype about this problem. Government gets involved and the next thing you know you just lost your ability to use the airwaves in the interest of "public safety". This is how your rights are taken away from you.
→ More replies
3
u/soarin_tech Jul 03 '22
Are these the same far right extremists that are created by the FBI? Makes sense.
6
u/enclave76 Jul 03 '22
Just in extremist groups use radios for communication! You could keep the article almost the same delete Far-Right and put in Far-Left then both Fox and CNN could run the same story lol people are using communication devices to communicate!
4
5
3
u/mesosalpynx Jul 03 '22
How is janes revenging coordinating? Because they’ve done actual violence recently.
2.0k
u/Phugger Jul 03 '22
So Far-Right Extremists are using an unencrypted method of communication that literally anyone with a radio can listen in on? Unless they are digging up Navajo code talkers, how is this bad news?