Word of the Day: Signaling System 7 (SS7)

Word of the Day Daily updates on the latest technology terms |May 8, 2017

Signaling System 7 (SS7) Signaling System 7 (SS7) is an international telecommunications standard that defines how network elements in a public switched telephone network (PSTN) exchange information over a digital signaling network. Nodes in an SS7 network are called signaling points. SS7 consists of a set of reserved or dedicated channels known as signaling links. There are three kinds of network points signaling points: Service Switching Points (SSPs), Signal Transfer Points (STPs), and Service Control Points (SCPs). SSPs originate or terminate a call and communicate on the SS7 network with SCPs to determine how to route a call or set up and manage some special feature. Traffic on the SS7 network is routed by packet switches called STPs. SCPs and STPs are usually mated so that service can continue if one network point fails. SS7 uses out-of-band signaling, which means that signaling (control) information travels on a separate, dedicated 56 or 64 Kbps channel rather than within the same channel as the telephone call. Historically, the signaling for a telephone call has used the same voice circuit that the telephone call traveled on (this is known as in-band signaling). Using SS7, telephone calls can be set up more efficiently and special services such as call forwarding and wireless roaming service are easier to add and manage. In 2014, security researchers in Germany demonstrated that attackers could exploit security holes in SS7 to track cell phone users' movements and communications and eavesdrop on conversations. The attack in question is essentially a man-in-the-middle attack on cell phone communications that, among other things, exploits the lack of authentication in the communication protocols that run on top of SS7. Quote of the Day "Everyone's accounts protected by text-based two-factor authentication, such as bank accounts, are potentially at risk until the FCC and telecom industry fix the devastating SS7 security flaw." - Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.)   Trending Terms PSTN out-of-band signaling man-in-the-middle attack SS7 attack SIGTRAN in-band signaling   Learning Center SS7 vulnerability allows attackers to drain bank accounts An SS7 vulnerability was exploited to steal money from German bank accounts. Plus, an Intel AMT flaw exposes millions to security risk and more. Can eavesdropping over the SS7 protocol be prevented? Researchers have found the SS7 protocol used for phone communications is insecure. Can the threat be mitigated? Security flaw exposes billions of mobile phone users to eavesdropping Hackers, fraudsters, rogue governments and unscrupulous commercial operators are exploiting flaws in the architecture of the mobile phone signaling system known as SS7. Mobile phone users at risk as hackers bug and track victims An investigation by an Australian TV show demonstrates how hackers based thousands of miles away in Germany were able to record the calls of an Australian senator and track his movements. Writing for Business The seminar covered an introduction to the _________ wireless protocols. a. principal b. principle Answer       Stay In Touch For feedback about any of our definitions or to suggest a new definition, please contact me at: mrouse@techtarget.com   Visit the Word of the Day Archives and catch up on what you've missed!   FOLLOW US About This E-Newsletter This e-newsletter is published by the TechTarget network. To unsubscribe from Whatis.com, click here. Please note, this will not affect any other subscriptions you have signed up for. TechTarget, Whatis, 275 Grove Street, Newton, MA 02466. Contact: webmaster@techtarget.com Copyright 2016 TechTarget. All rights reserved.