GPS and other space systems Hacked and taken offlineDoing so would instantly revert much of the world to 1950s communications and navigation technology. But in an era of rising geopolitical tensions, space cybersecurity remains largely invisible to the public.
Cyber attacks on satellites Occurred after the 1980sBut it was only a few years ago that a global alarm bell rang. Just an hour before Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Russian government operatives Viasat’s satellite internet service was hacked To disrupt communications and cause chaos in Ukraine.
I Learn about ethics and emerging technologies and, Advisor I attended the National Space Congress. My colleagues from Caltech and I Ethics + Emerging Sciences Group release Report funded by the National Science Foundation On June 17, 2024, he explained the problem of cyber attacks in space, Helps predict new and surprising scenarios.
The Universe and You
Most people don’t realize The important role that space systems playThis is true not only in military conflicts, but also in everyday life. For example, GPS uses signals from satellites. GPS enabled Precise timing This is essential in financial services, where every detail, such as the time of a payment or withdrawal, must be accurately recorded and reconciled: even mobile phone calls depend on precise time coordination within the network.
GPS is important for the navigation as well as coordination of planes, ships, cars and people. Fleet of trucks We deliver goods to local stores daily.
Earth Observation Satellite Space satellites are “eyes in the sky” with a unique perspective that helps forecast weather, monitor environmental changes, track and respond to natural disasters, increase agricultural yields, manage land and water use, monitor military movements, and more. The loss of these and other space services could be devastating for people vulnerable to natural disasters and crop failures, and it could also pose serious risks to the global economy and security.
factor
In our report, Several factors were identified It is important to recognize that the world is at the beginning of a new threat, for example, that contributes to the growing threat of space-based cyber attacks. A new space race.
From every point of view, the universe The congestion is increasing And the debate is heating up. Both states and private companies are Insufficient regulation And now I own it Most of the satellites In orbit, Competing for resources and Research site.
Space is so remote and difficult to access that if you want to attack a space system, you’ll likely have to do so through a cyberattack. Space systems are particularly attractive targets because their hardware can’t be easily upgraded once they’re launched. Anxiety gets worse over timeBecause it is a complex system, Long supply chainEach link in the chain increases the chance of vulnerability, and maintaining best practices over the long term is also a challenge for any major space project. 10+ Years It was necessary to build them.
And in space, the risks are extraordinarily high: Orbital debris travels at speeds of six to nine miles per second. Destroy a spaceship easily A collision could also halt space programs around the world. Kessler syndrome The Earth will ultimately be trapped in a cocoon of debris. These results favor space-based cyber attacks over physical attacks, as the debris problem will likely have consequences for attackers as well.
moreover, Critical Space Infrastructure Due to the lack of access to space and services such as GPS, a conflict in space could provoke or even intensify a conflict on Earth, even if it is a conflict in cyberspace. For example, Russia has warned in 2022 that hacking one of its own satellites could be considered a declaration of warthis is the last Norms of War.
Magic Trick Scenario
Even security experts who recognize the seriousness of this space cybersecurity threat face major challenges: at least in non-classified forums, only two scenarios are typically considered: one vague scenario involving satellite hacking, and another vague scenario involving signals. Interference and impersonation.
But failing to think through all possibilities can have devastating consequences for your security plan, especially if: A collection of diverse entities Attackers have different motivations and targets. These variables are important to identify as they provide clues as to which strategies and methods defenders can use to most effectively respond. For example, attacks by nation-state sponsored hackers may require a different approach than attacks by financially motivated criminals or government-sponsored hackers. Chaos Agent.
To help solve this piece of the security puzzle, our report provides a taxonomy. ICARUS Matrix– A system called Scenario Prompts that captures these variables and can create unique combinations of over 4 million variables. ICARUS is an acronym for “Imagine Cyberattacks and Predict Space-Specific Risks.”
Here we present three of the 42 scenarios included in the report.
3D and additive manufacturing printers are a valuable resource for space missions to quickly create parts when needed. Hackers could gain access to printers on the space station and reprogram them to create tiny defects inside the parts they print. Some of these components subject to failure may be part of critical systems.
Hackers could tamper with rover data to inaccurately show atmospheric, temperature, or water conditions. For example, doctored Mars rover data could falsely indicate that an area has a large amount of ice underground, rendering any subsequent missions launched to explore that area further useless.
In 1938, Radio Drama A program about an alien attack caused panic because many listeners did not realize it was fictional. Similarly, hackers could gain access to listening feeds for messaging extraterrestrial intelligences, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industryproject it, and insert something resembling an alien language into METI transcripts, then leak it to the media, potentially causing panic around the world and moving financial markets.
Other scenarios outlined in our report include insider threats, AI vulnerabilities, false flag attacks, eco-terrorism, ransomware at launch, and even more far-flung scenarios like asteroid mining, extraterrestrial colonization, and space piracy.
A story for better security
People are We are programmed to respond to stories.Whether shared around prehistoric campfires or on today’s digital platforms, creating novel and unexpected scenarios like these not only brings the invisible threat of space-based cyber attacks to life, but also shines a spotlight on the nuances of different scenarios. Multidisciplinary Experts Work together.
Patrick Lin Professor of Philosophy at California Polytechnic State University. conversation Under Creative Commons License. read Original Article.
