Americablog, a political weblog, recently purchased one month of General Wesley Clark’s cell phone records from a private company for $89.95. All they needed was General Clark’s cell phone number and a credit card, and 24 hours later they had one hundred calls the retired general made on his cell phone in November.

By doing so, they brought to light a security hole which has only recently gained media attention. Phone records are easily obtained by these services using fraudulent means. Verizon has sued a number of companies for illegally selling their customers’ records, but no carrier, including Verizon, reports having changed the policies that made the records available in the first place.

The CTIA also suggests this is a legal problem. The Wireless Association President and CEO Steve Largent (Yes, the former Congressman and Seahawk) said the folowing:

“Obtaining and selling customer call records is an act of fraud on consumers and wireless phone companies and should be vigorously prosecuted by state and federal law enforcement authorities. “

No government agency or trade organization has yet asked carriers to examine how records are stored or under what circumstances they are distributed.

This is just outrageous!

Technorati Tags: Wesley Clark, Cell Phone, CTIA, Steve Largent, Privacy