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Iraqi insurgents using $26 software to monitor Predator video feeds
Engadget.com ^ | 12/17/09 | Nilay Patel

Posted on 12/17/2009 8:55:10 AM PST by mgstarr

We can't say we've ever heard of a $26 Russian program called SkyGrabber before, but it's about to get famous real fast -- according to the Wall Street Journal, Iraqi insurgents have been regularly using the satellite-snooping software to monitor live Predator video feeds. Apparently the Predator transmits video over an unencrypted link, so there's no major hacking or security breach going on here, but it's obviously a huge issue -- and we'd say the bigger problem is that Pentagon officials have known about this flaw since the 1990s, but they didn't think insurgents would figure out how to exploit it. Way to underestimate, guys. The WSJ says the military is working to encrypt all Predator feeds from Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, but it's slow going because the Predator network is more than a decade old and based on proprietary tech -- too bad it's not proprietary enough to keep prying eyes out of it.


TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: aerospace; alreadyposted; usethesearch

1 posted on 12/17/2009 8:55:11 AM PST by mgstarr
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To: mgstarr
I'm not sure this is such a huge deal. if a terrorist sees someone he knows on the hacked feed, there is no way to warm his friend in time. and if he sees himself on the hacked feed, it just means he's gonna die on television.

it's not a good thing, by any means, but certainly not crippling.

2 posted on 12/17/2009 8:58:51 AM PST by JohnBrowdie (http://forums.stink-eye.com)
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To: mgstarr

Link appears to be broken... spooks at work?


3 posted on 12/17/2009 8:59:57 AM PST by rahbert (If not by the power of persuasion, then by the persuasion of power - Andy Stein)
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To: JohnBrowdie

I agree. The video feed is most likely raw and does not contain latitude and longitude info which is probably added via secure data link. It would be good for putting together a “He Blowed Up Real Good” montage video, though.


4 posted on 12/17/2009 9:03:47 AM PST by Blood of Tyrants (The Second Amendment. Don't MAKE me use it.)
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To: mgstarr

Terrorist: “Hey, how come this TV screen that shows monitors predator views is just showing an endless loop of TV’s in TV’s?”

Boom!


5 posted on 12/17/2009 9:06:51 AM PST by MNDude (The Republican Congress Economy--1995-2007)
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To: mgstarr

I see this as a positive. This gives us a new opportunity in PSYOPS. Imagine the possibilities.


6 posted on 12/17/2009 9:08:57 AM PST by papasmurf
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To: JohnBrowdie

Predators Rock! We’ve grown a couple generations of video game players and now... we’ll kill bad guys from halfway around the world while simulaneously IM’g friends for lunch plans. Guess it sucks to be jihadi stuck in the 13th century!


7 posted on 12/17/2009 9:12:19 AM PST by Made In The USA (The only thing better than bacon, is bacon wrapped in bacon.)
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To: mgstarr

8 posted on 12/17/2009 9:21:22 AM PST by red-dawg
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To: mgstarr

The solution is as simple as one mouse click away.

LLS


9 posted on 12/17/2009 9:23:09 AM PST by LibLieSlayer (hussama will never be my president... NEVER!)
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To: JohnBrowdie

If you see the feed, you know where the drones are and where they are targeting, that’s a HUGE tactical problem. If you know where we are going/looking, you know where not to be.

I can’t believe anyone authorized non encryption of the video feeds to begin with... I’d love to see the techs who fought to prevent this and managements excuse to let it go.


10 posted on 12/17/2009 9:24:35 AM PST by HamiltonJay
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To: HamiltonJay

As I said above, the video feed is probably raw and contains not lat and long info. If you have not studied aerial maps extensively from many angles and can quickly determine where the drone may be, the info will be of little help.


11 posted on 12/17/2009 9:38:11 AM PST by Blood of Tyrants (The Second Amendment. Don't MAKE me use it.)
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To: mgstarr
Related thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409426/posts
12 posted on 12/17/2009 9:55:12 AM PST by Yo-Yo
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To: Blood of Tyrants
As I said above, the video feed is probably raw and contains not lat and long info.

Raw video has that information keyed right on top of the camera image.


13 posted on 12/17/2009 9:58:23 AM PST by Yo-Yo
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To: Yo-Yo

Sorry about that - I did a search first before I posted but I guess the titles were too different.


14 posted on 12/17/2009 10:01:01 AM PST by mgstarr ("Some of us drink because we're not poets." Arthur (1981))
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To: mgstarr

Sorry? For what? Yours is a different article on the same subject. That’s fine by me, and certainly not an “already posted.”


15 posted on 12/17/2009 10:27:33 AM PST by Yo-Yo
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To: mgstarr
It's all better now, we can sleep soundly tonight.

US military drone security breach "fixed"-official

WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (Reuters) - The Pentagon has closed a security breach that allowed insurgents to hack into data feeds from pilotless "drone" aircraft that provide real-time video of war zones, a U.S. defense official said on Thursday.

The comments followed a report in the Wall Street Journal that revealed Shi'ite fighters in Iraq used software that cost as little as $26 to intercept the video feeds, potentially allowing them to monitor U.S. military operations.

"It is an old issue that was addressed and fixed," the U.S. defense official said when asked about the article.

The article said U.S. military personnel in Iraq discovered the problem last year after apprehending a Shi'ite insurgent who had digital files of drone video feeds on his laptop. More files were found on other militants' laptops in July.

-Excerpt (Roto-Reuters)
16 posted on 12/17/2009 11:26:55 AM PST by Yo-Yo
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To: JohnBrowdie
there is no way to warm his friend in time

The Predator will take care of that.

17 posted on 12/17/2009 11:50:37 AM PST by giotto
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To: mgstarr
It's all better now, we can sleep soundly tonight.

Or maybe not...

Not Just Drones: Militants Can Snoop on Most U.S. Warplanes (Updated)

Link only due to Wired.com's no post policy.
18 posted on 12/18/2009 9:48:08 AM PST by Yo-Yo
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