T-Mobile US is quietly upgrading the security of their older 2G network, moving to more advanced encryption that prevents eavedropping. The new, more secure network has already been deployed in at least three locations, New York, Washington, and Boulder, Colorado. The T-Mobile 2G network has previously relied on older A5/1 encryption, with the new security standard known as A5/3.
From the Washington Post:
The upgrade involves switching to a new encryption standard, called A5/3, that is harder to crack than older forms of encryption. Testing by The Washington Post has found T-Mobile networks using A5/3 in New York, Washington and Boulder, Colorado, instead of the older A5/1 that long has been standard for second-generation (2G) GSM networks in the United States. More advanced technologies, such as 3G and 4G, already use stronger encryption.
Do you still rely on T-Mobile's 2G network, and how do you feel about this security upgrade? Leave your thoughts in the comments.
Source: The Washington Post
