NBI arrests 2 Malaysians for illegal use of sniffing devices | #cybercrime | #infosec

National Bureau of Investigation’s headquarters.

MANILA, Philippines — National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents arrested two Malaysian nationals in Cebu City and charged them with cybercrimes for possessing illegal phone data sniffing devices.

The NBI on Tuesday said it is preparing to file charges for violation of Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act, against Chong Hong Yee and Kim Chui Tan following their arrest in a joint operation on Aug. 8 with the Bureau of Immigration and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center (CICC) of the Department of Communications Technology.

The NBI said concerned agencies received a tip about the alleged use of international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) catchers, or “data sniffers,” by foreigners staying at a posh hotel in Cebu City.

IMSI catchers are used in illegitimate schemes such as cyberattacks that steal data or breach systems.

Authorities served a warrant to search, seize, and examine computer data and to conduct forensic exams on the illegal devices recovered, including Raspberry Pi (a type of single-board computer), laptops, antennas, and modular devices used to intercept network traffic and retrieve data.

According to NBI, the devices of the two Malaysians can capture data from 5G networks and need permits from the National Telecommunications Commission./mcm