Stingrays

Stingrays are cellular phone surveillance devices, specifically ones which function as cellular site simulators (also known as cellular tower simulators). The name comes from a line of tower simulators made for law enforcement and the military by the Harris Corporation, stylized as “StingRay”. The term Stingray itself has since become a slang term for tower simulators in general, as well as the term “IMSI catcher”.

Stingrays are frequently rolled out to enable warrantless wiretapping on both individuals and crowds, for a multitude of reasons. Sometimes they are rolled out to find missing persons. Most people who get sucked into the net of one of these, will have it happen at a protest, political gathering or other street event. There is also nothing stopping the government from setting one up on your block if you end up on the wrong list.

Crikey, you don't wanna tangle with one of these mate!

Stingrays generally have two modes, passive mode and active mode, which each work differently:

The best way to protect yourself from a Stingray is to STOP USING CELL PHONES!!! Not only will you neuter the power of any Stingray, but you will thwart other spies & digital stalkers as well. The human race survived without cell phones for millennia. Start looking into the old analog and manual ways of doing things. If you must have technology (especially at street events, or if you hang out with extremely questionable people) then perhaps consider options that don't track you everywhere you go.

• EFF article on IMSI catchers at the Street Level Surveillance project