SnoopSnitch¶

SnoopSnitch is an open source Android app that offers users the opportunity to test the security of their mobile devices as well as of the mobile networks to which their devices connect.

SnoopSnitch offers two core security testing features:

SnoopSnitch - Android patch level analysis¶

SnoopSnitch's latest feature are tests to analyze whether a device’s build of the Android mobile operating system is missing security patches. The goal of this test is to identify if any patches are missing that should be included relative to the device’s current security patch level date.

This feature was introduced as part of the major 2.0 version update for SnoopSnitch.
For more information on our Android patch level analysis, you can review our presentation from Hack-in-the-box 2018 where we debuted and discussed the 2.0 version of SnoopSnitch [1]

SnoopSnitch - Mobile network security tests¶

SnoopSnitch's original security tests focus on identifying potential attacks or surveillance against an individual device from the mobile network. SnoopSnitch collects and analyzes mobile radio data to make you aware of the overall security of the mobile network to which your device is connected and to warn you about threats like fake base stations (IMSI catchers), user tracking, and over-the-air updates. With SnoopSnitch you can use the data collected in the GSM Security Map at gsmmap.org and contribute your own data to GSM Map.

For more information about the mobile network security tests, you can review our presentation from 31c3 2014 where we debuted and discussed the initial 0.9 version of SnoopSnitch [2]

[1] https://conference.hitb.org/hitbsecconf2018ams/sessions/mind-the-gap-uncovering-the-android-patch-gap-through-binary-only-patch-level-analysis/
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpW9o4SP3K8&feature=youtu.be

Documentation¶

For additional details on SnoopSnitch please refer to our FAQ.

You can also review our Privacy_Policy

See which Android application permissions are required to run SnoopSnitch.

Learn about SnoopSnitch's IMSI catcher metric.

Requirements:¶

SnoopSnitch is an app designed for use on Android devices only. SnoopSnitch will not work on Apple products.

SnoopSnitch can be installed on devices with Android OS version 4.1.2 or higher.

The Android patch level analysis tests are compatible with all devices.

The mobile network security tests are NOT compatible with all devices.

If a device is not compatible for the mobile network security tests, the app will grey this area out and display a "network test and attack detection require root" notice.

Requirements for mobile network security tests¶

Due to the nature of the actions required to perform the mobile network security tests, these features are only compatible on devices with:

• Root privileges enabled
• Qualcomm-based chipset (see device list)
• Stock Android ROM, version 4.1.2 or higher
  Note: Custom Android ROMs like CyanogenMod may or may not work, depending on the availability of a Qualcomm DIAG kernel driver (DIAG_CHAR).

For additional information specific to utilizing SnoopSnitch's mobile network security tests, please refer to our FAQ.

Incompatible Devices for mobile network security tests:

The following devices have been found to be incompatible and can not be used with SnoopSnitch's mobile network tests:

• Unsupported. Every device without Qualcomm chipset
• Unsupported. Devices with custom ROM such as CyanogenMod which lacks the Qualcomm DIAG kernel driver (DIAG_CHAR)
• Unsupported. Samsung Galaxy S2 & S3
• Unsupported. Nexus 5 with stock Android
• Unsupported. Huawei Ascend Y300

Disclaimer regarding mobile network security tests

The mobile network security tests include an active part. First, your phone will place outgoing calls to a dedicated number. This number will always be busy and never answer in order to rule out voice charges as best as we can.

Second, your phone will send SMS short messages to an invalid number. In some cases, we saw operators charging for these kind of transactions transactions. Hence, please have an eye on your phone bill when performing active tests using SnoopSnitch. To control for involuntary charges, we strongly advise the use of a dedicated pre-paid SIM card for these tests.

Furthermore, our call server will call your phone and send test SMS during the active test. To avoid unnecessary costs on our side, DO NOT PICK UP OR REJECT AUTOMATIC CALLS FROM OUR SERVER. If you pick up a call or have a mailbox or auto-answer feature configured that picks up the call automatically you may get blacklisted and cannot use our service anymore. Please see our Banned wiki page for details.

For additional information specific to utilizing SnoopSnitch's mobile network security tests, please refer to our FAQ.

Download:¶

• Pre-compiled .apk from Google Play Store
• Pre-compiled .apk from F-Droid
• Pre-compiled .apk (SHA256: 1bc918bb3044bb7809210d71aa0bd90186ca9275f48e463a9358864cd4172c00)
• Source Code:

  git clone --recursive https://opensource.srlabs.de/git/snoopsnitch.git

SnoopSnitch is released under the GPL v3 license (cf. source:COPYING). The app is known to built under Linux and OS X, see source:README for build instructions.

Mailing list¶

A public mailing list for discussions is here
For specific questions to the snoopsnitch-team that do not require or permit public discussion, please contact us directly at snoopsnitch [you know what to put here] srlabs.de

Version history¶

Version 2.0.9:

• Fixed autostarting mobile network security test on boot
• Fixed notifications on Android OS versions >= 8.0
• Minor bugfix

Version 2.0.8:

• Support for new patch analysis test type
• Performance improvements of patch analysis
• Bugfixes
• Additional status messages when performing patch analysis tests

Version 2.0.7:

• improved network technology detection
• small UI fixes

Version 2.0.1 - 2.0.6:

• bugfixes and stability improvements
• additional UI/UX improvements

Version 2.0:

• introduction of Android patch analysis feature (+ restructuring and improving UI )
• reduced battery consumption

Version 1.0.3

• Improved error handling

Version 1.0.2

• Improved compatibility with newer Android versions and devices
• Configurable notifications

Version 1.0.1

• Android 5 and 6 support
• Improved reliability of active test
• Better support for LG phones

Version 1.0.0

• Wireshark/pcap export
• Improved IMSI catcher metric
• Lower battery impact
• Autonomous upload option
• Daily measurement option

Version 0.9.8

• Improved catcher detection
• Reduced memory consumption
• 4G data collection and basic analysis
• Various enhancements and bug fixes

Version 0.9.7

• Improve detection of type 1 catchers and silent calls
• Reduce false positive rate
• Upload anonymized metadata additionally to radio traces
• Various enhancements and bug fixes

Version 0.9.5

• Make detection run automatically on boot
• Support LTE active tests
• Improve detection of 2G/3G catchers
• Detect empty WAP pushes

Version 0.9.4

• Improve type 1 catcher and silent SMS detection
• Implement network info screen
• Detect malfunctioning baseband interface
• Various enhancements and bug fixes

Version 0.9.3

• Support Android 5
• Fix initialization issue on newer devices
• Translation to German and Dutch

Version 0.9.2

• Fixed app lock-up issues
• Improved device compatibility check
• Handled unsupported LTE gracefully

Version 0.9.1

• Fix problem where SnoopSnitch would leave the phone muted after a test
• Remove issue with disappearing (Skype) dialing dialogs
• Resolved performance issue in analysis

Version 0.9.0

• Initial public release

Training Material¶

As a primer to the snoopsnitch detection approach, we have prepared a set of hands-on training material.
It contains network traces of IMSI catcher attacks and silent SMS and an analysis guide.