A new vulnerability in text messaging could allow hackers to track your location, even if your communications are encrypted.
The vulnerability, which was discovered by researchers at Northeastern University, affects all smartphones that use the SMS protocol. It works by exploiting the way that SMS messages are delivered. When a user receives a text message, their phone sends a notification to the sender, which includes the user’s approximate location.
Hackers could exploit this vulnerability by sending a series of text messages to a target’s phone. By tracking the timing of the delivery notifications, they could triangulate the target’s location.
The vulnerability is not currently being exploited in the wild, but it is a serious security risk. Researchers have notified the relevant authorities, and they are working on a fix.
