The StingRay is an IMSI-catcher with each passive (digital analyzer) and iTagPro features active (cell-site simulator) capabilities. When operating in lively mode, ItagPro the gadget mimics a wireless provider cell tower in an effort to power all nearby cell phones and different cellular information units to hook up with it. Hand-carried variations are referred to under the trade title KingFish. In active mode, the StingRay will force each suitable cellular system in a given area to disconnect from its service supplier cell site (e.g., operated by Verizon, iTagPro features AT&T, and many others.) and establish a brand new connection with the StingRay. Most often, that is accomplished by having the StingRay broadcast a pilot sign that is either stronger than, or made to seem stronger than, iTagPro shop the pilot alerts being broadcast by reputable cell sites operating in the realm. A typical perform of all cellular communications protocols is to have the cellular gadget hook up with the cell site offering the strongest sign. StingRays exploit this operate as a means to pressure momentary connections with cellular devices within a restricted area.

Throughout the process of forcing connections from all appropriate cellular units in a given area, the StingRay operator needs to determine which system is the specified surveillance target. That is completed by downloading the IMSI, ESN, ItagPro or other identifying data from every of the devices linked to the StingRay. On this context, the IMSI or equivalent identifier isn't obtained from the cellular service supplier or from another third-social gathering. The StingRay downloads this knowledge directly from the machine using radio waves. In some instances, the IMSI or equivalent identifier of a goal machine is understood to the StingRay operator beforehand. When this is the case, the operator will obtain the IMSI or equivalent identifier from each machine because it connects to the StingRay. When the downloaded IMSI matches the identified IMSI of the desired target, iTagPro features the dragnet will finish and the operator will proceed to conduct particular surveillance operations on just the goal machine.

In other instances, the IMSI or equal identifier of a target shouldn't be identified to the StingRay operator and the aim of the surveillance operation is to determine a number of cellular devices being used in a recognized area. StingRay can be utilized to obtain the IMSI or equivalent identifier from each telephone throughout the protest space. After identifying the phones, iTagPro features locating and tracking operations could be performed, and repair providers may be pressured to turn over account data figuring out the cellphone users. Cellular telephones are radio transmitters and receivers, very like a walkie-talkie. However, the mobile phone communicates solely with a repeater inside a nearby cell tower set up. At that installation, the machine takes in all cell calls in its geographic space and repeats them out to different cell installations which repeat the indicators onward to their vacation spot phone (both by radio or landline wires). Radio is used additionally to transmit a caller's voice/information again to the receiver's cellular phone.

The two-method duplex phone conversation then exists by way of these interconnections. To make all that work appropriately, the system permits automatic will increase and decreases in transmitter power (for the person cell phone and for the tower repeater, too) so that solely the minimal transmit energy is used to complete and iTagPro features hold the call active, "on", and iTagPro USA allows the customers to listen to and be heard constantly throughout the conversation. The goal is to carry the decision lively however use the least amount of transmitting energy, primarily to conserve batteries and be environment friendly. The tower system will sense when a cell phone shouldn't be coming in clearly and iTagPro features can order the cellular phone to spice up transmit energy. The user has no management over this boosting; it may happen for a split second or for the entire conversation. If the user is in a distant location, the power enhance could also be continuous. Along with carrying voice or information, ItagPro the cell phone additionally transmits information about itself mechanically, and that's boosted or not because the system detects want.