Secret Service agents say they disrupted a scheme that put the New York region’s communications network at risk, uncovered during an investigation into threats against senior U.S. officials. The plot — involving more than 300 servers and 100,000 SIM cards — was dismantled just as world leaders prepared to gather in New York City for the United Nations General Assembly.
Officials said the networked devices could have shut down cell towers, launched denial-of-service attacks — the digital equivalent of clogging a phone line until no one else can get through — and allowed encrypted communication between criminal groups and foreign operatives.
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The devices were found within 35 miles of the U.N. headquarters in midtown Manhattan, the Secret Service said.
“We want to identify, locate and take down these criminals that are setting up these networks,” said Matt McCool, special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s New York Field Office. “My message to them is if you’re involved in this, we’re coming for you.”
Secret Service investigates potential targets
Working alongside other federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, investigators traced the network of devices, analyzed communications and dismantled the system before it could be used against officials.
Federal authorities also received a tip suggesting the threats and plot could be linked to the Chinese government, according to ABC News. The Secret Service has not confirmed who is behind the devices.
Foreign operatives and criminal groups involved
The Secret Service is still investigating the full capabilities of the network and whether it had a specific target. Officials say the system could have sent millions of anonymous messages per minute, enough to overwhelm the region’s phone networks.
“Let me just explain that this is no longer a threat,” McCool said. “We’ve taken this network down, but there could be others, right? It would be unwise to think that there’s not other networks out there being made in other cities in the United States, and that’s gonna be part of our investigation.”
While forensic analysis is still underway, investigators say early findings suggest the equipment was used to connect foreign actors with individuals already known to federal law enforcement.
“Known organized crime, known cartels and terrorist groups were using this network to run their communications anonymously and encrypted,” McCool said.
