WASHINGTON, DC - Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) today announced a closed briefing on Thursday, May 19, 2016, to discuss the vulnerabilities of the SS7 protocol. The briefing will be given by technical experts from U.S. wireline and wireless network operators.
“Anyone with a phone is exposed to possible security breaches," said Upton & Walden. “The briefing will provide a better understanding of the role of SS7 in our global communications networks and any security flaws in the SS7 protocol. Identifying these flaws is a critical component to protecting the privacy and security of folks back home."
A recent 60 Minutes segment profiled the potential vulnerabilities of SS7 - the routing system that underlies the legacy voice networks around the world - depicting how simple it is for wrongdoers to gain access to a user’s call using the system. Bipartisan committee leaders requested briefings from communications providers on the vulnerabilities of SS7 in late April. Related Items
* Bipartisan Committee Leaders Seek Briefings from Communications Providers on Vulnerabilities of SS7
