CTA Radio Hacker Arrested

werinshades · #1 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 02:18 PM

CTA radio hacker to face charges - Chicago Breaking News

soncorn · #2 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by werinshades

CTA radio hacker to face charges - Chicago Breaking News

Not much of a "hacker" if he had to use a stolen radio to do it.

Plus the story doesn't really make a whole lot of sense, but I expect nothing less from the media today.

RADIOGUY2002 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 05:31 PM

Scratch Head and Ponder.......hmmmmmm

RoninJoliet · #4 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 07:07 PM

Well this idiot did not do the scanner community any favors just like the idiot in New York that put the kabash on cellphone in scanners...Now both on CH5 and CH7 interviews the CTA official said well we will be looking for a vendor to purchase "Digital ENC" so this kinda thing never happens again....However the news dude mentioned the CTA has NO funds for this type of very costly system!!....

soncorn · #5 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoninJoliet

However the news dude mentioned the CTA has NO funds for this type of very costly system!!

When has a lack of funding ever stopped the government from spending more?

KB9LIQ · #6 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 09:35 PM

They will put it under homeland security and get all the money they need.

KSJ745 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-04-2009, 10:48 AM

I wonder if this brainiac was a "member" of the "Lodge"

KSJ745 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-04-2009, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoninJoliet

Well this idiot did not do the scanner community any favors just like the idiot in New York that put the kabash on cellphone in scanners...Now both on CH5 and CH7 interviews the CTA official said well we will be looking for a vendor to purchase "Digital ENC" so this kinda thing never happens again....However the news dude mentioned the CTA has NO funds for this type of very costly system!!....

Lets not forget this infamous incident with the CFD a few years ago. A legit "hacking" using a non-official department radio.

Racial slurs prompt radio overhaul

And for those of us "in the know" are aware of the real reasons Cook County Sheriff went P25 encrypted.

Hmmmmm grrrrrrrrr. Just more fuel to feed the anti-scanner hobby

NWIScanner · #9 (**permalink**) 08-04-2009, 12:08 PM

Now ABC 7 has an article saying that he bought the radio and programmed the CTA frequencies and "was just playing around on the radio". But he says he bought the radio from someone in Wisconsin with the frequencies already programmed on it. Yeah right!

RADIOGUY2002 · #10 (**permalink**) 08-06-2009, 09:44 AM

I love how the story changes, so is their an uniformed answered on if he took a cta radio or if he programed the radio etc.

werinshades · #11 (**permalink**) 08-06-2009, 10:33 AM

From what I gather, he found the input frequencies and PL used, and was able to program the radio. CFD uses a "digital encrypted code" in addition to our PL tone on the input frequencies for each one of our radios. I've been told if one of our radios are lost or stolen, the radio can be disabled. I could see this on a digital system, but don't know if it's possible on an analog system. In about a month, programming begins for EMS companies for digital switchover.

RADIOGUY2002 · #12 (**permalink**) 08-06-2009, 11:34 AM

Yea, I'm not to sure about the digital encrypted code by definition, I have a few ideas what that means. But, that' okay it not that imperative that I know or anyone else knows except for people that maintain the system. But it does have me scratching my head wondering what it refers too, remember when they reprogrammed all their radios from the racial slur incident and the chit chat on the trs system about the ids specific to the rigs and to see how they came up in the oemc office. And yes, you can disable an analog radio in a couple of ways assuming the radio is programed for disable features, the options are kill, stun etc. But, that brings into question if he programmed them himself or if the radio was stolen.

Astro25 · #13 (**permalink**) 08-07-2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by werinshades

From what I gather, he found the input frequencies and PL used, and was able to program the radio. CFD uses a "digital encrypted code" in addition to our PL tone on the input frequencies for each one of our radios. I've been told if one of our radios are lost or stolen, the radio can be disabled. I could see this on a digital system, but don't know if it's possible on an analog system. In about a month, programming begins for EMS companies for digital switchover.

Digital code? You must mean MDC-1200. Because CFD still used Saber 2s around the time they went to pre-MDC scrutinizing after that "racial slur" indicent.

KSJ745 · #14 (**permalink**) 08-07-2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by werinshades

From what I gather, he found the input frequencies and PL used, and was able to program the radio.

Ah.. ahemmmm...grrrr.. My kweshum is where did this righteous brother get that info?

paperplate9 · #15 (**permalink**) 08-09-2009, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSJ745

Ah.. ahemmmm...grrrr.. My kweshum is where did this righteous brother get that info?

Good question. If this "hacker" wasn't into radios, ham, public safety, commerical comms, etc...he must be a genius to have figured it out.

RADIOGUY2002 · #16 (**permalink**) 08-10-2009, 08:53 AM

lol, and once again bingo had is named all over it.

"Digital code? You must mean MDC-1200. Because CFD still used Saber 2s around the time they went to pre-MDC scrutinizing after that "racial slur" indicent"

Thats kinda what I was thinking, with out saying astro25. You have officially activated the mdc1200 discrimnator, if you do not have mdc-1200 you cannot be here. :-) I was unaware of any other digital code other then trunking format, and thats losily defined as a code (manfacture ideas) for lack of wording or better yet known as a talkgroup assigned, usually to a home group.

KC9NCF · #17 (**permalink**) 08-14-2009, 02:54 PM

I'm willing to bet any amount of money:

1. Any of us hams found with a motorola radio, even if programmed only for amateur frequencies will now face a ton of BS if someone wants to make a big deal out of it because it doesn't "look" like your "usual" ham transceiver

2. Any person, including rail fans with any type of scanner or other radio capable of receiving public safety, special emergency, or other frequencies and also capable of decoding or finding PL/CTCSS, DCS, ECS, or NAC codes will be subject to a hell of a lot of scrutiny because of this jerk off.

People like him make us all look like absolute trash and I hope they do more than just throw the book at him!

paperplate9 · #18 (**permalink**) 08-19-2009, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC9NCF

[...] if someone wants to make a big deal out of it because it doesn't "look" like your "usual" ham transceiver[ ...]

Your usual ham transceiver?

You mean, like this?

KSJ745 · #19 (**permalink**) 08-27-2009, 12:27 PM

How the CTA worked to help with arrest of person "stealing" radio airwaves - CTA Tattler

So, what really happened behind the scenes to intercept and eventually capture the fellow who "stole" CTA radio airwaves and sent out about 300 communiques? Here's the story copied directly from the report given to the CTA board this month by President Richard Rodriguez:

Today, I would like to recognize and commend several employees who were instrumental in the arrest of an individual who was illegally transmitting over CTA radio signals. Fortunately, while working with the FCC, the Chicago Police, and the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force to investigate, we were able to block these pirate transmissions to field personnel and keep them confined to modified channels at the Control Center where they were monitored and recorded.

Richard Smith, a Customer Assistant at our Jackson Red Line station was the first employee to assist in this arrest. He aptly responded to a stolen radio reward inquiry made by a customer. Mr. Smith, due to the unusual nature of the request, was suspicious and put the customer on the phone directly with the Control Center.

The Customer Assistant Controller, Tisha Stokes, quickly alerted her manager of this call. William Reilly, the manager on duty had been a key member of the operations team supporting the investigation since its inception.

He immediately recognized the voice, took over the call and during the conversation was able to elicit details regarding the type of equipment and the person's contact information. In fact, after having personally heard a recording of the conversation, I turned to senior staff and commented, "Those FBI people really are tactful in their questioning." I was soon informed that the person on the phone was not FBI, but our own William Reilly.

Finally, Dan Hall, our Chief of Security, after having arrived at the station and speaking with the unauthorized transmitter, eventually elicited a confession. The customer was detained by CPD and taken into custody by the FBI. Last week he was charged with violation of the Patriot Act's prohibition of interference with trains and train dispatch.

This ladies and gentlemen, is what makes an organization such as the CTA work so well . . . teamwork. I would like to personally thank Mr. Smith, Ms. Stokes, Mr. Reilly, and Mr. Hall and invite them to come forward. Please join me in giving them a round of applause for their quick thinking and the crucial part they played in resolving this security concern.

It's a good thing to recognize good work by great employees.

RADIOGUY2002 · #20 (**permalink**) 08-27-2009, 03:42 PM

Now the answers come out, thanks for sharing.........My dad got hit up the other day, by someone claiming that they were in law enforcement and was wearing his outside star. My dad was suspicious of this person following him and turned into a public parking lot, where this individual has his star exposed and began questioning my dad. My dad told him he was licensed and the guy took off, I wish he would have got his star and the agency so I could share. Is this what is to be expected?