UK closes SS7 telecom surveillance loophole

British authorities have closed a significant vulnerability in the international telecommunications system that enabled unauthorized tracking of mobile phone users. The loophole exploited the SS7 protocol, a decades-old signaling system used globally for routing calls and texts between carriers. The closure marks a step in addressing persistent telecom infrastructure vulnerabilities that have been exploited by intelligence services and criminal networks, though similar SS7 weaknesses remain exploitable in many jurisdictions worldwide.