'Pagers Rigged with Explosives': Marine Colonel Explains Weaponizing Everyday Tech

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The attacks in Lebanon allegedly involved the clever use of pagers and walkie-talkies, possibly after tampering with them during manufacturing.

These devices might have been set off remotely, triggered by a call or electronic signal.

Similar devices like smartphones, laptops, and tablets could potentially be rigged in the same way.

This incident exposes weaknesses in global tech supply chains and may prompt tighter regulations in manufacturing.

In the past 48 hours, two coordinated attacks in Lebanon—using pagers and walkie-talkies rigged with explosives—have left 26 people dead and over 3,000 injured. The attacks targeted Hezbollah members, with many civilians, including children, caught in the chaos.

The scene, as described by sources, felt straight out of an action movie, but the tragedy was all too real. Thousands of Hezbollah-owned pagers exploded across Lebanon, seriously injuring many fighters. The news has led to confusion, with various theories emerging on how everyday devices were turned into deadly weapons.

To shed light on the situation, Techopedia spoke with retired Marine Corps Colonel William “Burner” Dunn, who offered expert analysis on this disturbing development.

How Were These Devices Turned into Weapons?

There’s no official word yet on how exactly the devices were tampered with, but experts, according to CNN, believe it was a carefully planned operation that took months or even years. Whoever was behind it likely infiltrated Hezbollah's communication supply chain and altered the devices at the hardware level. This meant that the explosives could be hidden inside the pagers and walkie-talkies, waiting to be set off.

In Beirut, a Reuters reporter witnessed Hezbollah members hurriedly removing batteries from walkie-talkies that hadn’t exploded yet, desperately trying to prevent further blasts.

Colonel Dunn, who has over three decades of experience in the Marine Corps and served recently in Syria, told Techopedia that this points to a highly sophisticated attack, planned well in advance.

"Hezbollah stopped using cell phones months ago, knowing they could be tracked by Israeli intelligence. They switched to pagers, thinking they were safer. But someone—Hezbollah blames Israel's Mossad—got to those pagers, possibly adding explosives during the manufacturing process before they were shipped to Lebanon and Syria."

According to Dunn, the technology needed for such an attack already exists. “It’s not new. Once you know how these devices are bought and distributed, it’s just a matter of adding the explosives and setting them to detonate, likely through a call or some other electronic signal.”

Could Other Devices Be Turned Into Weapons Too?

When Techopedia asked Dunn if devices like smartphones or laptops could be rigged in a similar way, his answer was blunt.

“Yes, any system that can receive an outside signal—whether it’s a cell phone, a pager, or even a smartwatch—could be retrofitted to carry out this kind of attack.”

He emphasized that to prevent such a threat, users must be certain of where their devices come from. Procedures could be developed to check devices for hidden explosives, but it’s clear that trust in the technology supply chain will need to be strengthened.

The Impact on Global Technology Manufacturing

This attack might not only change the way we think about our personal devices, but it could also lead to big changes in how electronics are built. Colonel Dunn likened it to the Tylenol cyanide poisonings in 1982, where seven Americans died after someone tampered with bottles. That tragedy led to massive changes in how products are packaged and shipped in the U.S.

“I think we’ll see something similar with electronics—especially pagers and phones,” Dunn said.

The U.S. Congress has already started taking a tougher stance on tech-related security, with bans on certain apps like TikTok and stricter rules on exporting technology to certain countries. Recent acts like the ROUTERS Act aim to tighten control over communications technology in the U.S., and this pager attack could speed up even more changes.

Protecting Military Personnel

When asked how military personnel can protect themselves from these threats, Dunn stressed the importance of secure communication.

“Our deployed troops don’t carry cell phones on missions for a reason. Secure communication is key. Cell phones and pagers aren’t secure, and we know that conventional forces will use safer systems to protect against IEDs. It’s vital that military personnel avoid bringing personal communication devices on deployment.”

The Bigger Picture

While technology has always played a role in global conflicts, the explosion of pagers and walkie-talkies in Lebanon takes the dangers to a new level. The idea that everyday devices—things we carry with us all the time—could be used as weapons is deeply unsettling.

Governments around the world will be closely watching this situation as it unfolds. New laws and regulations could soon follow, forever changing the way our devices are made and distributed.

In a world where technology can be both a tool and a weapon, it’s becoming increasingly clear that no device is truly safe. The question now is how we, as a global community, respond to this new and terrifying threat.