NSA GENESIS: How NSA Spies Snooped on Local RF Bands using Modified Cell Phones with a Built-in SDR
Over on YouTube, the "Spy Collection" channel has recently uploaded a video detailing the US National Security Agency's (NSA) GENESIS spy gadget. GENSIS was a modified Motorola cell phone that contained a full software-defined radio system within. This system allowed NSA agents to discreetly record the local RF spectrum for later analysis. For example, an agent may have been able to record the frequencies and RF protocols used at particular facilities of interest for use in later operations.
Details about the NSA GENESIS were revealed when the NSA's Advanced Network Technologies (ANT) catalogue was publicly leaked back in 2013. Originally, project GENESIS was due to be declassified in 2032.
Spy Collection also notes that the leaked documents indicate it is possible the phone was also used, or intended to be used, as a "finishing tool". In other words, a remotely detonated explosive phone, that could be given to persons on the US terrorist list.
A finishing tool is NOT a phone that explodes. It is a device, sometimes a phone, that can detect a signal of interest (SOI), such as a target cell phone, and the person with the finishing tool can then locate the location of the target phone by monitoring the RSSI. Using a phone to do this is discreet and is often accompanied by a cell site simulator nearby. Spy Collection needs to read up on trade craft versus assuming finishing tool equates to exploding phones haha