US Predator Drones hacked by "insurgents"...

[Martial Arts Man]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/a...

Oh dear; it seems that some "off the shelf" software has been used to hack into these "state of the art" drones.


Someone's gonna be in big trouble over this one!

[Soovy]

American tossers.

Amazing

[bobthemonkey]

Some American generals warned of this recently.

Apparently, the bulk of Predator video (as opposed to flight data) in that region goes through an old, French, commercial communication satellite on unencrypted channels!

[tank slapper]

Some lazy, or sensationalist journalism there.

The drones were not "hacked". They unsurprisingly used standard video equipment to receive an in the clear transmission.

Rather a silly assumption by the designers that no one would be able to do that.

[fastfreddy]

" they could watch live video feeds beamed back to US control stations through their electronic “eyeballs”."

Wow - you can buy electronic eyeballs off the internet for £16 now?

Why bother spending £2k to get your tired old eyes lasered when you can get a bionic man upgrade?

[CoopR]

So no "hacking " at all, simply capturing unencrypted data that the Americans are beaming around the world without a care. It's such an easy thing to do you can bet foreign intelligence organisations have been recording it all for years.

[smifffymoto]

It puts into perspective Gary Mckinnons case.Just how secure were the systems he got into,my guess is not at all secure

[Marf]

CoopR said:

So no "hacking " at all, simply capturing unencrypted data that the Americans are beaming around the world without a care. It's such an easy thing to do you can bet foreign intelligence organisations have been recording it all for years.

A UFO nut captured the video feeds from the ISS and shuttle missions for years using sattellite equipment.

This case does sound rather Mckinnonish though. Its as tankslapper said, simply unprotected assets accessed using readily available hardware/software.

Hard to fathom that it could happen, especially in a warzone.

[s3fella]

Surley all they can see is if their own houses are being blown up?

[CoopR]

smifffymoto said:

It puts into perspective Gary Mckinnons case.Just how secure were the systems he got into,my guess is not at all secure

In his case they had BLANK passwords!

[Marf]

CoopR said:

smifffymoto said:

It puts into perspective Gary Mckinnons case.Just how secure were the systems he got into,my guess is not at all secure

In his case they had BLANK passwords!

Yup, so just as in this case, no hacking required. Just an open door as it were.

[Jimbeaux]

Soovy said:

American tossers.

Amazing

You know, I have never directly insulted the "British" as a whole across the board in my five years or so on this forum....can I start now?

[Jimbeaux]

s3fella said:

Surley all they can see is if their own houses are being blown up?

That is about it. As stated, the flight data, which has more important details such as past routes, flight times, etc, are blocked. The video is no good except to see themselves or their comrades being popped.
However, I am certain the french satellite will lose the business for a more encrypted router. If it were me, I would continue to tansmit in the clear using a drone operating in an area totally unrelated to my mission just to throw off the adversary.

Edited by Jimbeaux on Friday 18th December 14:41

[BiggusLaddus]

You might as well Jim, you're going to keep getting it back regardless.

[TEKNOPUG]

Jimbeaux said:

Soovy said:

American tossers.

Amazing

You know, I have never directly insulted the "British" as a whole across the board in my five years or so on this forum....can I start now?

They are Tossers and they are American - what's your beef?

If the quote had been "Americans are tossers" I could see your point (oo-er missus)

[Halb]

Martial Arts Man said:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/a...

Oh dear; it seems that some "off the shelf" software has been used to hack into these "state of the art" drones.


Someone's gonna be in big trouble over this one!

Was it these guys?

Edited by Halb on Friday 18th December 14:46

[Jimbeaux]

BiggusLaddus said:

You might as well Jim, you're going to keep getting it back regardless.

I do feel the love!

[Jimbeaux]

TEKNOPUG said:

Jimbeaux said:

Soovy said:

American tossers.

Amazing

You know, I have never directly insulted the "British" as a whole across the board in my five years or so on this forum....can I start now?

They are Tossers and they are American - what's your beef?

If the quote had been "Americans are tossers" I could see your point (oo-er missus)

I have no point, thus the smile....what's yours? It is Friday damnit, breath deep!

[TEKNOPUG]

Jimbeaux said:

TEKNOPUG said:

Jimbeaux said:

Soovy said:

American tossers.

Amazing

You know, I have never directly insulted the "British" as a whole across the board in my five years or so on this forum....can I start now?

They are Tossers and they are American - what's your beef?

If the quote had been "Americans are tossers" I could see your point (oo-er missus)

I have no point, thus the smile....what's yours? It is Friday damnit, breath deep!

I'm still at work! Friday doesn't start for another 3 hours

[off_again]

Martial Arts Man said:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/a...

Oh dear; it seems that some "off the shelf" software has been used to hack into these "state of the art" drones.


Someone's gonna be in big trouble over this one!

Oh fantastic, yet again some lazy journalist decides to write a story about something the don't know about and sensationalise it beyond all belief. To re-itterate what others have said here - its video feed data, which if you got enough of it, you could potentially work out where it was coming from. But its historical and not at all that useful as it does not contain much more than that.

So, unless you have a unique knowledge of the area by air or have a delight in seeing people getting blown up, its of little use. Though this doesnt stop lazy journos making up stories.

I love it when they start out with "Speaking off-the-record, senior American defence officials" is lasy arse speak for "I made it up and I don't have to justify it to anyone".