Insurgents Use $26 Software to Hack Drone Feeds
Iranian-backed insurgents in Iraq are using $26 software to gain access to drone feeds.
Today's edition of the Wall Street Journal reports that Iranian-backed insurgents in Iraq use $26 software to hack into an unprotected U.S. communications link and intercept live video feeds from Predator drones. The report said that Shiite fighters typically use programs such as SkyGrabber and others listed on the Internet, costing as little as $25.95.
Currently there's no evidence to suggest that the militants could gain direct access to the drones. However, by accessing the live video feeds, militants could have the upper hand by knowing about surprise attacks beforehand. The feeds could also provide information on what roads and buildings are under U.S. surveillance, allowing American enemies to bypass those areas.
There's a growing concern that "hacks" such as these are an introduction to a "shadow cyber war." There's also concern that work still needs to be accomplished in making the Predator drone program more secure. As the WSJ states, currently the Predator drones are the "weapons of choice" in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The problem of feed capture isn't new: apparently the problem was first reported last year by U.S. military personnel in Iraq. After apprehending a Shiite militant, they discovered that his laptop contained files of intercepted drone video feeds. More video files were discovered back in July on other laptops. Although officials say that the U.S. is working to encrypt all drone video feeds, it's currently not clear if the problem has been resolved.
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A billion dollar project compromised by a $26 software....made me laugh!!
Maybe they should try secure, or hey, even encrypted wireless transmission. Just a thought.
Something like this was to be expected! Unencrypted raw video data? This makes me laugh!
Is this truly the military, or a do it yourself guy who made those machines?
It surprises me that so far drones would not be intercepted by iranian hackers, to locate US bases, and crash those vehicles!
Would be so cool to watch those feeds. Should make that a subscription service.
Subscription service for live predator feeds...beats selling poppy seeds.
proves ther is no such thing as militray intelligence
fear the Reaper
I saw reports of the drone video being unencrypted well over a year ago. Either it was too expensive to fix, or the military didn't consider it a threat. I don't agree with either theory.
Of course if I were in the military... I would want 5 drones with encrypted video and 1 drone with bogus images transmitting unencrypted video for the purpose of dis-information.
Unfortunately I don't think our guys are thinking that far ahead.
This has got to be the best marketing slogan for SkyGrabber imanineable "Even captures video from US Drones".
But seriously, slapping a DSP in front of the antenna to encrypt the data can't be that hard, let alone expensive.
"Predator drones are built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. of San Diego. Some of its communications technology is proprietary, so widely used encryption systems aren't readily compatible, said people familiar with the matter."
WSJ
LMAO! Nice 'proprietary' system. Hope they dont win any more contracts.
Maybe they should try secure, or hey, even encrypted wireless transmission. Just a thought.
+1. Just make sure not to use some stupid Wierless encryption standard like WEP (broken in under 15 minutes).
"Predator drones are built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. of San Diego. Some of its communications technology is proprietary, so widely used encryption systems aren't readily compatible, said people familiar with the matter."WSJ
LMAO! Nice 'proprietary' system. Hope they dont win any more contracts.
+1. This is why they should run Linux + Open Source stuff
I wonder when they will make an iphone app out of that.
underestimating the enemies mind...I don;t think so. They are allowing this to happen.
"Predator drones are built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. of San Diego. Some of its communications technology is proprietary, so widely used encryption systems aren't readily compatible, said people familiar with the matter."WSJ
In any case, the military are to blame.
As any engineering company designing and building a product, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc must design a product complaint with the specification of the contractee. And if I were writing the specification for the predator I would certainly add this simple requirement:
"All communications with the unit must be encrypted"
If they are not is either because it was not specified or it was but the contractor couldn't implemented ant the military accepted the deviation from the specification. In either case, they are to blame.
Well, if someone sent a giant RC plane at you strapped with a bomb, wouldn't you want to send it right back up their asses?
I'll all for a unmanned military, but at the same time, I'm all for no military...
I always loved American politics (beats boring Canadian politics), but as always, what amsues me the most is the senselesness.
Maybe they want you to see what and how they kill! put fear into people!
/troll on
Are they using PS3 consoles in this project too?
/troll off
Sorry I had to say it.
It's probably almost all false information.
Of course some of it may be true information that benefits iranians and sacrifices some allied troops so that the iranians keep thinking that its real... there's no free chicken.
The US loses nothing by publishing these 'reports' of 'gross ineptitude'. iranians think they're being ubar haxors and the US keeps up the charade.
the only fly (and blessing) is that most of the american public (yeah thats u) thinks the military are all blundering idiots. Which is the cost of being truly successful in the game of information/counter information.
"Predator drones are built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. of San Diego. Some of its communications technology is proprietary, so widely used encryption systems aren't readily compatible, said people familiar with the matter."WSJ
Thats BS, you can put encryption chip right before output to antena and you dont need to care what data signal is entering it.
DID ANYONE GIVE THE MILITARY ANY CREDIT FOR DELIBERATELY PLANTING RED HERRINGS ???
I like my Herring red...
You mean "before output data to transmitter", but yes, neglecting to encrypt downlink data is, well, short-sighted.
"Billion dollar project fail"
Lame article reprint. This is neither a hack, as it is open comm, nor a fail, as it was a known vulnerability to be dealt with when necessary. Were it a hack, it would be one of the least successful in recent memory given the apparent efficacy of the drones.
Iranian terrorist intercepts video from Predator...
Sees his house in the video...
Video zooms in to his head...
BOOM!!!!!
Don't know how this is such a security risk. The damn things fly in daylight, at fairly low altitude, via propeller propulsion.....These things are visible to the naked eye folks...No need to get video feed to see where they're at, just look up in the air!
another ad on toms that breaks the page, i can scroll down for all eternity. making this web site more and more lame and useless.