In a sophisticated and deadly two-day operation widely attributed to Israel, hundreds of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members in Lebanon and Syria exploded simultaneously, killing at least 32 people and injuring thousands, raising fears of escalating conflict in the region.
This real deadly attack over multiple days conjures fears that such hidden dentoators may secretly lurking in more modern devices, perhaps even cell phones around the world. What do we know about the recent attacks?
- The first wave on Tuesday involved exploding pagers used by Hezbollah members, killing at least 12 people and injuring thousands.
- The second wave on Wednesday involved exploding walkie-talkies and other devices, killing at least 20 more people and injuring over 450.
How Did They Do It?
There are several theories about how the pager and device explosions in Lebanon and Syria occurred. The most prominent theory, supported by U.S. officials, is that it was a sophisticated operation likely carried out by Israel, involving supply-chain interference. Small explosive devices were reportedly built into the pagers before delivery to Hezbollah, and then remotely triggered simultaneously, possibly using a radio signal.
Other theories have included the use of malware to cause the devices to overheat and explode, or an electronic pulse sent from afar to burn the devices. The scale and complexity of the attack suggest the involvement of a state actor with significant resources and intelligence capabilities.
Based on the search results, the following types and brands of devices were reported to have exploded in Lebanon and Syria recently:
1. Pagers:
– AR-924 model pagers, branded by Gold Apollo (a Taiwanese company) but manufactured by BAC Consulting KFT (a Hungarian company)
2. Walkie-talkies:
– Icom V82 model walkie-talkies
3. Other devices:
– Unspecified “wireless pagers”
– Unspecified “handheld pager system”
– Solar energy systems (reported to have exploded in homes in several areas)
The attacks targeted an extraordinary number of people across multiple areas. The scale and complexity suggest involvement of a state actor with significant resources and intelligence capabilities. Some details are still uncertain and investigations are ongoing. The Israeli military has not officially commented on the incidents, though unnamed U.S. officials have attributed the attacks to Israel.
Origins of the Tech in Attacks
The information about the pagers’ origin and manufacturing is somewhat unclear and conflicting. Here are the key points:
- A Taiwanese company called Gold Apollo was initially linked to the pagers, as their brand appeared on the devices.
- However, Gold Apollo denied manufacturing the pagers and stated that a Hungarian company named BAC Consulting was licensed to use their brand and was responsible for the design and production>
- BAC Consulting is registered in Budapest, Hungary, but reports indicate there may not be an actual operational presence at the registered address.
- The CEO of BAC, Diana Bary-Aidiacono, has a background in various organizations, including UNESCO.
- According to the BBC article, BAC was established in 2022.
- The CBS News article states: “Business records accessed by CBS News from Hungary’s Ministry of Justice show that Bac Consulting was registered as a company in May 2022.”
Could Someone Explode Your Phone?
While the technology theoretically exists, the likelihood of widespread attacks using exploding cell phones is extremely low. The recent events in Lebanon and Syria appear to be highly targeted, sophisticated operations, not indicative of a broader threat to everyday cell phone users.
There are a few key factors that make it more challenging to carry out the type of attack Israel allegedly did on pagers against modern cell phones:
1. Security features: Modern smartphones have significantly more advanced security features and encryption compared to simple pagers. This makes it much harder to compromise the devices or insert malicious components[16].
2. Complex supply chains: Cell phones have complex, global supply chains involving many components and manufacturers. This makes it more difficult to infiltrate and compromise the supply chain compared to simpler pager devices[15].
3. Frequent updates: Smartphones receive regular software updates that can patch vulnerabilities, unlike pagers which rarely if ever update[14].
4. Scrutiny and testing: Major smartphone manufacturers conduct extensive security testing and scrutiny of their devices and supply chains, making it harder to insert malicious components undetected[16].
5. Awareness: There is much greater awareness now of potential supply chain attacks on electronics, leading to increased vigilance[15].
6. Alternative communication methods: Groups concerned about surveillance have alternatives like encrypted messaging apps, making compromising the physical phone less valuable[15].
7. Detection capabilities: Advanced forensics and security monitoring can more easily detect anomalies or compromised components in smartphones compared to pagers[16].
While no system is perfectly secure, these factors make replicating a pager-style supply chain attack much more challenging with modern cell phones. However, sophisticated state actors may still attempt such attacks using advanced techniques[14][16].
Read More
[1] https://abc7ny.com/post/what-know-2-waves-deadly-explosions-hit-lebanon-syria/15324996/
[2] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hezbollah-pagers-explode-israel-taiwan-hungary-gold-apollo-bac-consulting/
[3] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hezbollah-pagers-explode-lebanon-new-device-explosions-beirut/
[4] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/pager-new-device-explosions-lebanon-hezbollah-rcna171637
[5] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/walkie-talkie-blasts-lebanon-japan-icom-israel-new-phase-war-hezbollah-rcna171773
[6] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce9jglrnmkvo
[7] https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/pager-explosion-attack-targeting-hezbollah-kills-12-wounds-thousands-more
[8] https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-hezbollah-israel-exploding-pagers-8893a09816410959b6fe94aec124461b
[9] https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/beirut-explosion-conspiracy-theories-explained
[10] https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/what-we-know-so-far-about-the-deadly-pager-explosions-in-lebanon-and-syria
[11] https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-hezbollah-israel-exploding-pagers-8893a09816410959b6fe94aec124461b
[12] https://www.hrw.org/report/2021/08/03/they-killed-us-inside/investigation-august-4-beirut-blast
[13] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9372604/
[14] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegasus_%28spyware%29
[15] https://umbc.edu/stories/pagers-and-walkie-talkies-over-cellphones-a-security-expert-explains-why-hezbollah-went-low-tech-for-communications/
[16] https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/12/israel-white-house-spying-devices-1491351
[17] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK570627/
