The Secret Service seized a network capable of shutting down New York City's cell service

The Secret Service says it thwarted a telecommunications cyber-op in New York City. On Tuesday, the agency announced that it seized a network of SIM servers. It was capable of jamming cell towers, conducting DDoS attacks and enabling encrypted communications. The discovery came ahead of world leaders gathering for the UN General Assembly this week.

The network, reportedly discovered in August, was extensive and sophisticated. It included over 300 SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards across multiple sites. A Secret Service official told The New York Times that it was powerful enough to send 30 million anonymous text messages per minute. Photos provided by the Secret Service (below) show racks of SIM- and antenna-laden servers.

"This network had the potential to disable cell phone towers and essentially shut down the cellular network in New York City," special agent Matt McCool said in a video statement. He said ...