Insurgents Hack U.S. Drones

[Linen0ise]

Militants in Iraq have used $26 off-the-shelf software to intercept live video feeds from U.S. Predator drones, potentially providing them with information they need to evade or monitor U.S. military operations.

I thought the military worship encryption and high-grade software protection systems. How in the world can a $26 piece of software monitor satellite controlled drones? That new stealth predator is probably vulnerable also. Sad, Sad, Sad. Also means other things are can be intercepted. Damn shame.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1261...?mod=yhoofront

[t34b4g5]

and it took them how long to work out that there feeds were being intercepted???

i bet some heads are going to roll over this.

[westin]

and it took them how long to work out that there feeds were being intercepted???

i bet some heads are going to roll over this.

Maybe literally, since we are dealing with insurgents.

Was that wrong?

[gore]

This isn't something new... In WW2, the Nazi army found out the US was listening in when two planes were flying in a DMZ, and a German Pilot decided to try a test out... He used a radio to call in for permission to fire on a pilot, at which point, the guy in the US plane, swerved, very quickly, out of the way. Basically, they found out that the US was listening in on their communications, by pretending to call in for permission to fire on a pilot, who responded to the request.

I always found that interesting lol.

[Linen0ise]

Maybe literally, since we are dealing with insurgents.

Was that wrong?

I know what you actually meant but you are very wrong. The term insurgent is a polite way to classify people who disagree with you. The marine that went rambo killing 30 soldiers and wounded many more. Would you classify him as a terrorist because of his refusal to fight which he swore to do? He should of went AWOL but now he is surely going to get the death penalty.

Iran and N. Korea testing long range missiles. Is that to scare Israel or is it actually to shoot down those Satellites predators and other GPS weapons rely on? If that is successful, America already lost the war and the advantage. Soldiers would be too scared to fight.

This is bigger than you think. The article is trying to say Satellites need to be upgraded.

[rcgreen]

The term insurgent is a polite way to classify people who disagree with you.

I thought it was a synonym for "dudes", as in "some dudes planted a
roadside bomb and blew up a passing vehicle."

[Linen0ise]

I thought it was a synonym for "dudes", as in "some dudes planted a
roadside bomb and blew up a passing vehicle."

you got it. The "invisible" dude. Heck they caught Americans over there wanting to play the real life call of duty modern warfare chess game.

[Linen0ise]

* puts on tin foil hat*

1. military knew about this flaw for years. Notice it's not a big thing when told to the fake media.
2. sold many UAV to other countries for, lets say, 12 million a unit
3. some of those countries cant be trusted; gets smuggled out the country
4. each unit sold has a unique Media Access Code that should give the manufacture\contractor code plus the unique serial number -- good for tracking
5. gun smuggler who profits from selling weapons and bullets sells your goods to the enemy....say Iran.
6. Iran uses those drones to monitor it's borders
7. friendly forces take advantage of the flaw to get the GPS and locations Iran is trying to protect.
8. friendly forces waiting for an OK to use bombers to destroy all marked target locations. Reason why Israel is constantly reminded of destruction -- troublemakers

9. Pentagon hackers confirmed they were able to control the UAV covertly from a lab setting. That was broadcasting on live tv. Now your enemies know the truth and wondering what they heck they bought.

10. Why would the military leak this to a reporter in the first place. Notice alot of in-the-know references? "don't call us...we'll call you"

*buries the looking glass*

[brokencrow]

You can take off the tin foil hat, Linen0ise. The nice thing about the web is you can do your own defense analysis these days. It doesn't hurt if you used to work in an ITAR facility.

1) to date, the US has not exported UAV's to anyone. "MTCR" issues. So far, only Australia and Italy are cleared for unarmed units:

http://www.forexyard.com/en/reuters_...ROSPACE-DRONES

2) Iran builds their own drones. Undoubtedly pieces of chit compared to US machines:

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Iran...Fleet_999.html

3) Israel does export them (no comment):

http://defense-update.com/products/h/harop.html

It does raise the question as to what kind of physical proximity one needs to intercept satellite data. It sounds like satellites pretty much spray an area. How big an area, and does data up and data down coverage vary?

You got to hand it to those crazy Iraqi Shias. Those boys ain't stupid. Hezbollah (also Iranian-funded Shias) handed IDF their arses in southern Lebanon in '05 by studying up on Merkavas (Israeli MBT's) to find a weak spot. Did it using the web from what I've heard (BBC documentary).

HTH, BC

[Linen0ise]

Maybe you or someone else can answer this question. I have plenty of DVB software to play with. I currently using DVB-T. Can those cards pick up other signals other than digital over-the-air tv?

If I installed a DVB-S2 card into the computer, would it be possible to use a dish inside a home or building rather than drilling holes for placement on the roof?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVB-S2

South Korea's military said Friday it was investigating a hacking attack that netted secret defense plans with the United States and may have been carried out by North Korea.

first hacked climate emails, predators, 911 leaks, and now this. Too much is happening. I'm glad for the disclosure but it sounds like somebody or some organization is really pissed off.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091218/...as_cyberattack

Hackers briefly blocked access to the popular Internet messaging service Twitter, steering traffic to another Web site where a group reportedly calling itself the "Iranian Cyber Army" claimed responsibility.

Military is not alone with lax security it seems.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091218/...twitter_hacked