Alva Review-Courier -

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — The formidable surveillance power of cell site simulators has put them at the forefront of privacy debates in the U.S. and Europe. Now The Associated Press has found evidence that the devices are sending threatening text messages to the soldiers fighting pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

So what are cell site simulators and how do they work?

—What are they?

Cell site simulators work by masquerading as one of the millions of cell towers that keep people connected all around the world. The devices, which can vary in size and are also known as IMSI catchers, or by v...