How To Set-Up Kali Linux For Sniffing GSM Traffic

This document shows how to set up HackRF in Kali Linux. You can follow this guide to set up and install HackRF drivers in Kali Linux.
Introduction
GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications, originally Groupe SpécialMobile) is a standard developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) to describe the protocols for second-generation (2G) digital cellular networks used by mobile phones. The detail information you can learn from Wikipedia.
GSM is a kind of signal, people can use device to receive it, such as cell phone and signal receiver. This article is going to show you how to set up HackRF, which is one of popular device, on Kali Linux.
1. Install gnuradio Application
For setting up HackRF, the first thing is to install some packages and application.
Open a terminal window and execute the following commands to install gnuradio. GNU Radio (gnuradio) is a free software development toolkit that provides signal processing blocks to implement software-defined radios and signal-processing systems.
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2. Install gr-gsm Application
Before installing gr-gsm, we have to first install some dependency packages.
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After installed the above packages, we then are able to install gr-gsm. The following command will clone gr-gsm repository and install it.
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Next, we need to create a config file ~/.gnuradio/config.conf
and insert the following contents into the config file:
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3. Install kalibrate-hackrf
We are now going to clone the package from GitHub, then compile it.
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All preparation works done! Now, let’s install HarkRF software.
4. Install HackRF
Execute the following command to install HackRF.
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5. Testing Connection
Execute the following command to verify if the application/software works well. If it works, your HackRF device’s info will be displayed on the terminal window as shown in the screenshot below.
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