Insurgents Use $26 Software to Hack Drone Feeds

Status
Not open for further replies.
G

Guest

Guest
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!
 
G

Guest

Guest
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.
 

Firehead2k

Distinguished
Jul 5, 2009
30
0
18,580
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.
 

scurvywombat

Distinguished
Jan 12, 2008
12
0
18,560
"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
 

Shadow703793

Distinguished
Feb 3, 2007
696
0
18,940
[citation][nom]Rancifer7[/nom]Maybe they should try secure, or hey, even encrypted wireless transmission. Just a thought.[/citation]
+1. Just make sure not to use some stupid Wierless encryption standard like WEP (broken in under 15 minutes). ;)
 

Shadow703793

Distinguished
Feb 3, 2007
696
0
18,940
[citation][nom]scurvywombat[/nom]"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[/citation]
[citation][nom]B-Unit[/nom]LMAO! Nice 'proprietary' system. Hope they dont win any more contracts.[/citation]
+1. This is why they should run Linux + Open Source stuff
 

Duncan_Idah0

Distinguished
May 29, 2008
5
0
18,510
[citation][nom]scurvywombat[/nom]"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[/citation]

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.
 

anamaniac

Distinguished
Jan 7, 2009
1,035
0
19,230
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.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Maybe they want you to see what and how they kill! put fear into people!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.