LAS VEGAS (Reuters) – A recent surge in GPS “spoofing”, a form of digital attack which can send commercial airliners off course, has entered an intriguing new dimension, according to cybersecurity researchers: The ability to hack time. Moreover, GPS spoofing airlines not only affects safety but also impacts flight operations. #GPSSpoofingAirlines
According to OPSGROUP, GPS spoofing incidents affecting commercial airliners have surged by 400% recently. Many of these incidents involve illegal ground-based GPS systems. These systems, especially near conflict zones, broadcast incorrect positions to mislead drones or missiles.
“We think too much about GPS being a source of position, but it’s actually a source of time,” Ken Munro, founder of Pen Test Partners, a British cybersecurity firm, said during a presentation at the DEF CON hacking convention in Las Vegas on Saturday.
“We’re starting to see reports of the clocks on board airplanes during spoofing events start to do weird things.”
In an interview with Reuters, Munro mentioned an incident where a major Western airline’s aircraft had its onboard clocks advanced by years. This caused the plane to lose access to its digitally-encrypted communication systems.
The plane was grounded for weeks while engineers manually reset its onboard systems, said Munro. He declined to identify the airline or aircraft in question.
In April, Finnair temporarily paused flights to the eastern Estonian city of Tartu due to GPS spoofing which Tallin blamed on neighboring Russia. #GPSSpoofingAirlines
Addressing GPS spoofing airlines requires a comprehensive strategy involving both technological advancements and rigorous monitoring. By strengthening these measures, the aviation industry can better protect against potential disruptions and ensure safe air travel for passengers worldwide.
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