IMEI-changing software poses new security threat in India

Two new softwares capable of changing International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI) of mobile phones are reported to be in circulation posing a new challenge to security agencies.

The software identified as 'Spiderman' and 'Chinaking' are stated to be capable of changing IMEI of mobile phones manufactured from China.

The IMEI number is a 15-digit unique number of every mobile handset and comes handy for security agencies in the event of cellular technology being used for any terror or criminal activity.

PTI reports that the government has already asked telecom operators not to register any mobile which has an incomplete IMEI number and even the Commerce and Industries Ministry has imposed a ban on any import of mobile handsets with such a defect.

The Union Home Ministry has asked the DoT to look for ways to block the software but the Telecom department expressed its inability to do so as the names kept changing as well as the domain thereby posing problems for the Internet service providers to block them, the PTI report added.

(SOURCE: PTI)