Chairman Walden: People 'astonished' over mobile vulnerabilities

House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) said the House should look into whether mobile phone networks are vulnerable to hackers. Chairman Walden said that a “60 Minutes” report on the vulnerability was worrisome. The “60 Minutes” segment, aired April 17, showed how hackers could listen in on phone calls and track other data from smartphones with only the number associated with the device. The hackers said they were exploiting a vulnerability in a mobile network called SS7, which helps connect calls.

Chairman Walden called it “an issue of deep concern” and said he thinks "people will be astonished” by the existence of the vulnerability. He said he expected lawmakers associated with his committee to examine the issue in some form. “It’s something we’re looking at, yes, because it just went public here last night,” he said, before cautioning that it was possible lawmakers could do so in private sessions rather than an open hearing. “We’ll get briefed up on it first and then see where we go,” he said, adding later, "Some of these issues are better dealt with maybe even in a classified setting.” He is not the first lawmaker to call for lawmakers to examine the report. Rep Ted Lieu (D-CA) said that the House Oversight Committee should take a look at the vulnerability.