The Secret Service said the devices could have disabled mobile phone towers and conducted a range of telecommunications attacks in New York
The US Secret Service on Tuesday said it had dismantled a network of more than 100,000 SIM cards that could have crashed New York’s telecommunications network ahead of the UN General Assembly, linking the threat to “nation-state” actors.
“In addition to carrying out anonymous telephonic threats, these devices could be used to conduct a wide range of telecommunications attacks,” the agency said in a statement.
“This includes disabling cell phone towers, enabling denial of services attacks and facilitating anonymous, encrypted communication between potential threat actors and criminal enterprises.”
The UN’s high-level general debate kicks off in New York on Tuesday, with US President Donald Trump due to address the summit on its first day.
