MSNBC: Secret Service Bans Personal Mobile Devices From West Wing

[NRaleighLiberal]

Source: MSNBC, TPM

By NICOLE LAFOND Published OCTOBER 6, 2017 10:42 AM

The Secret Service has directed its agents protecting the White House to ban personal mobile device in the West Wing, according to a memo obtained by MSNBC.

The memo, which was reportedly sent out by the Secret Service, was revealed by MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow on her show Thursday evening, but the news outlet was not able to confirm the authenticity of the document with the White House or the Secret Service department, she said.

Secret Service personnel were notified this week that as of Monday there would be a “new restrictive policy” that would prohibit the use of mobile devices, cell phone, tablets and smart watches within the entire West Wing.

“All personal devices will either be secured and provided lock boxes … or turned off completely prior to entering the West Wing,” the memo said, according to Maddow. There will be a “30-day management period” before policy takes affect and the new rules only apply to personal devices.

snip - more at the link

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/msnbc-secret-service-bans-personal-mobile-devices-west-wing

[irisblue]

1. take out the battery & sim card too.

NSA what the hell?

[TheBlackAdder]

13. Yep. Almost all phones can be remotely activated, even when powered off for audio, video & GPS.

[TheBlackAdder]

18. You might think it's powered down. Ensure security is to remove a battery/lock away in faraday box.

http://money.cnn.com/2014/06/06/technology/security/nsa-turn-on-phone/index.html

Even if you power off your cell phone, the U.S. government can turn it back on.That's what ex-spy Edward Snowden revealed in last week's interview with NBC's Brian Williams. It sounds like sorcery. Can someone truly bring your phone back to life without touching it?

No. But government spies can get your phone to play dead.

If the NSA can do it, Russian operations can too.


https://www.wired.com/2017/03/cia-can-hack-phone-pc-tv-says-wikileaks/


https://www.cultofmac.com/470847/cia-used-malware-spy-iphone-users/


https://www.macworld.com/article/3129449/security/how-to-keep-your-macs-camera-from-spying-on-you-no-tape-required.html


And... the new iPhones coming out might actually addf that feature, to remotely power on a powered off device--just to make it easier for the nefarious to take advantage of:

http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/iphone/how-find-lost-iphone-ipad-even-if-battery-has-died-3612189/

Right now it isn’t possible to locate an iPhone or iPad that is turned off, however, according to a report by CNBC in November 2016, Apple has patented technology that would allow a stolen or lost iPhone to be switched on remotely and transmit location information to its owner through the Find My iPhone feature.

We're not sure when or if this feature will be employed by Apple in their current or next generation iPhones, but we will be sure to update this article if we learn more.

Once your phone is spoofed into faking a power off, it's open season. Now, you can buy an RF detector from Brickhouse, like I did, and you can see if your phone sends RF signals from time to time. I use mine for sweeping a hotel room, and gave one to my daughter when she travels to the EU, along with her hidden camera detector. She is politically active and doesn't need an Erin Andrews incident.

[logosoco]

2. If I was a parent or caregiver to an elderly person I would not like this "ban"

at all.
Most people these days rely on their cell phones for many things. I can see maybe in some professions you can't be using it while actually working, but to have to put them in a lock box seems severe.

But, i wouldn't work for this administration in any way, shape or form anyway, not because of this ban!

[unblock]

5. i was thinking about the white house press corps....

[FakeNoose]

11. They have cellphones issued to them as White House employees

They still have their work phones and that's all they can use while they're inside the White House. If a teacher, sitter or caregiver needs to reach somebody they can still do it.

The ban on personal cellphones is smart and safe, because cellphones can be rigged to exploit a weakness in the Wifi network. In the case of Gen. Kelly he didn't even know his phone had been rigged, and he wasn't using it much. Doesn't matter though, somebody found a way to exploit it. Fact of lfe. If you don't like it, don't work at the White House.

Many companies that have secure work rules follow the same restrictions.

Just sayin'

[unblock]

3. "the new rules only apply to personal devices" -- so, mobile devices used for work are ok?

actually, my real question is, is this just an elaborate cover to try to stop donnie from tweeting?

[Girard442]

6. I'm assuming that this means anything that isn't actually bolted to a desk.

[unblock]

8. i would think the ban would be for "mobile" devices rather than "personal" devices then.

as usual we are reduced to trying to craft a vaguely sensible policy on the idiotic word salads that come out of this misadministration....

[Girard442]

4. Fortunately, it's not like people use smart phones, tablets, or laptop computers to do useful work.

[IronLionZion]

7. Take away Trump's twitter phone!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

9. There will be exceptions to this rule.

Twitler must tweet. I wonder who else is exempt.

[SCantiGOP]

19. No tweeting

Trump’s phone will only play Angry Birds and get MSNBC.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

20. Secret Service can't enforce that.

We'll have to bring in the Double-Secret Service.

Maybe that'll work.

[TheBlackAdder]

14. That's probably the most insecure device on the planet.

[Rhiannon12866]

16. That was my first thought, too!

[LisaM]

10. Guess someone is afraid of being recorded.

Hmmm. Who could that be?

[Siwsan]

15. I'm thinking that's the reason

Fear of some sort of recording of what's really going on, getting released to the press.

[procon]

12. This is political theater.

"There will be a “30-day management period” before policy takes affect and the new rules only apply to personal devices."

Since they don't seem to be confiscating any devices from the WH staff, what's the point? Maybe it's just another heavy handed, amateurish attempt to stifle the press. If reporters aren't able to take photos, record speakers, or broadcast live news events, then there will be no more public records and Trump can screech that everything coming from the news media is more Fake News because - see! -- they have no proof.

As an added bonus this new restriction will also hide Trumps bumbling incompetence and the slapstick antics of his Keystone Kops Kabinet.