Enea Releases Report on Mobile Device Tracking in Modern Warfare, Highlighting Risks and Implications

Enea Releases Report on Mobile Device Tracking in Modern Warfare, Highlighting Risks and Implications

(IN BRIEF) In its groundbreaking report, “Location Tracking on the Battlefield: Phones Under Fire,” Enea provides a comprehensive overview of various methods employed to gain military intelligence through tracking mobile devices on the battlefield, focusing on Ukraine. The report addresses the complexities of mobile network usage in warfare, shedding light on the potential risks and implications of using connected devices in conflict zones. It explores three categories of mobile device tracking methods: radio-enabled location tracking, network-enabled location tracking, and device-enabled tracking, offering guidance and recommendations for evaluating risks and minimizing them if mobile device use is necessary. Enea’s research aims to enhance security measures and inform policymakers in the telecom, military, and government sectors.

(PRESS RELEASE) STOCKHOLM, 24-Jan-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — One year on from Ukraine’s strike on Russian troops in Makiivka, which was said to have been made possible by tracking Russian troop’s mobile phones, Enea’s groundbreaking report, “Location Tracking on the Battlefield: Phones Under Fire,” marks the first complete review of mobile tracking methods used in modern warfare with a focus on Ukraine.

In the new report, Enea gives a comprehensive overview of the various methods employed to gain military intelligence through the tracking of mobile devices on the battlefield. This is the first time a complete perspective, including military radio-centric and mobile network-centric methods, has been offered in a single report, providing individuals and organizations the guidance to understand the full scope of risks when using connected devices in conflict zones.

After the Makiivka strike on New Year’s Day 2023, the Russian defense ministry stated that the use of mobile phones by their forces allowed Ukraine to locate the target for the attack. While this statement’s plausibility has been thoroughly discussed, a simulation by Enea presented in the report shows that it may have been possible for Ukrainian forces to track signals from the Russians’ mobile phones and thereby locate them. The possibility that this attack, described as a significant loss for the Russian forces, was initiated after mobile device tracking underscores the consequences of mobile phone usage in war zones.

While the attack on Russian forces in Makiivka is only one example, the report reviews the various methods used to track mobile devices on the battlefield in Ukraine, dividing them into 3 categories:

1. Radio-enabled location tracking
2. Network-enabled location tracking
3. Device-enabled tracking

No previous research has comprehensively addressed all methods with side-by-side comparisons, as it requires distinct expertise in each field. This unique and ground-breaking research gives detailed outlines of the methods used, in addition to guidance and recommendations on the risks of mobile device tracking in war zones. Civilians and military personnel can evaluate the risks and benefits of bringing mobile devices into war zones and assess how to minimize risks if mobile device use is required.

The unique insights are based on original research of extensive open-source material, combined with intelligence from Enea’s mobile network Threat Intelligence Unit. The report is the latest in Enea’s coverage of mobile network usage in Ukraine before and during Russia’s invasion.

Cathal McDaid, VP Technology at Enea and lead author of the report, commented, “Our comprehensive analysis of the mobile battlefield reveals the complexities and evolving role of mobile networks in warfare. This report brings an important understanding of how phones are tracked on the battlefield, adding crucial insights for telecom, military and government policymakers to enhance security measures and effectively leverage technological advancements in the field. It builds and expands upon our previous research, which showed how important commercial telecom networks are for the security and resilience of a country facing hybrid threats, and the need for network security to help protect a country’s networks.”

About Enea

Enea is a world-leading specialist in software for telecom and cybersecurity. The company’s cloud-native solutions connect, optimize, and secure services for fixed and mobile subscribers, enterprises, and the Internet of Things. More than 100 communication service providers and 4.5 billion people rely on Enea technologies every day.

Enea has strengthened its product portfolio and global market position by integrating a number of acquisitions, including Qosmos, Openwave Mobility, Aptilo Networks, and AdaptiveMobile Security.

Enea is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, and is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.

For more information: www.enea.com

Media Contact:

Stephanie Huf
Chief Marketing Officer
E-mail: stephanie.huf@enea.com

SOURCE: Enea