Study Finds Half of Geostationary Satellite Signals Lack Encryption, Exposing Sensitive Data
By
Andy Greenberg, Matt Burgess
Front-window bakery material. Catches the eye, delivers the goods.
Summary
Researchers at UC San Diego and the University of Maryland have discovered that roughly half of geostationary satellite signals are transmitted without encryption, leaving sensitive communications vulnerable to eavesdropping. Using just $800 worth of basic equipment, the team intercepted a wide range of unencrypted data, including thousands of T-Mobile users' calls and texts, as well as US military communications. The findings reveal a significant security gap in satellite communications that carry sensitive consumer, corporate, and government data.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledRoughly half of geostationary satellite signals, many carrying sensitive consumer, corporate, and government communications, have been left entirely vulnerable to eavesdropping
With just $800 in basic equipment, researchers found a stunning variety of data—including thousands of T-Mobile users' calls and texts and even US military communications—sent by satellites unencrypted
You might expect that those space-based radio communications would be encrypted to prevent any snoop with a satellite dish from accessing the torrent of secret information constantly raining from the sky. You would, to a surprising and troubling degree, be wrong.
You might also wanna read
Flawed Encryption Algorithm in Police and Military Radios Poses Security Risks
Researchers discovered a backdoor in an encryption algorithm used by police, military, and critical infrastructure, making communications vu
wired.com·9mo ago
SpaceX's Classified Starshield Satellites Emitting Mysterious Signals That May Violate International Standards
SpaceX's classified Starshield satellite network is emitting mysterious signals on frequencies normally used for uplinking commands from Ear
npr.org·7mo ago