Article

2013-08-17 Science

Texas Students Successfully Develop Drone, UAV, Warship Spoofing Technology

A team of student radio navigation researchers from the University of Texas has developed a "GPS spoofing device" that allows an attacker to take control of a ship's navigation system.

The UT students successfully hacked a GPS navigation system and took control of a ship's course.

Their test has exposed a serious potential security threat to everything from ocean liners to oil tankers.

The UT team tested their GPS spoofing device in June on an $80 million 213-foot yacht in the Mediterranean Sea. They were able to change the course the mega-yacht without anyone on the ship knowing.

Students, acting as attackers or hackers, were able to send fake GPS signals to the ship's civilian navigation system and change its course.

The GPS spoofing device is stealthy. It created a "ghost ship" on the ship's GPS screen. The ghost ship fools the crew into believing that the ship is on it's proper course, when in reality the ship is moving in a different direction.

The GPS spoofing device reasearch is bring led by assistant professor Todd Humphreys from the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at the Cockrell School of Engineering.

"The ship actually turned, and we could all feel it, but the chart display and the crew saw only a straight line," Humphreys told the Cockrell School of Engineering's website.

Drones are also at risk. Last year Humphrey and his team used similar technology to take over a UAV.

Posted by Glomosing Brown8795 2013-08-17 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11 views ] Top

#1 That's why one always backs up GPS with less "sexy" means of navigation.

Posted by Pappy 2013-08-17 09:10|| 2013-08-17 09:10|| Front Page Top

#2 Compass? I'm thinking it would pretty hard to fool a simple compass remotely.

Posted by CrazyFool 2013-08-17 09:29|| 2013-08-17 09:29|| Front Page Top

#3 Having vectored the aircraft to the proper release point, there's no 'spoofing' iron bombs. Properly calculated with airspeed and altitude, gravity is profoundly consistent.

Posted by Besoeker 2013-08-17 09:35|| 2013-08-17 09:35|| Front Page Top

#4 Compass? I'm thinking it would pretty hard to fool a simple compass remotely.

:)

A knowledge of local waters is always helpful, along with a quality compass cat, a lead line, good eyesight and the friendship of a fine dog.

Posted by Shipman 2013-08-17 10:57|| 2013-08-17 10:57|| Front Page Top

#5 I'm glad that the UT kids have now let us know what is possible.

Be a bitch if the PLAN gave us a "demonstration" at an inopportune time.

Posted by AlanC 2013-08-17 11:19|| 2013-08-17 11:19|| Front Page Top

#6 Hey, AC!
Texas has a right to protect its borders.

Posted by Skidmark 2013-08-17 13:27|| 2013-08-17 13:27|| Front Page Top

#7 Hey Skid!! Just make sure they share with the other states!! (except Californicate, Taxachusetts, New Joisy, New Yourk, Killinois; did I miss any?)

8^)

Posted by AlanC 2013-08-17 13:42|| 2013-08-17 13:42|| Front Page Top

#8 Just another prep step for secession and the rebirth of the Republic of Texas & Oklahoma. Proper EW r&d, send it over to Texas Instruments in Dallas.

going to have to get legal domicile established there soon, to beat the rush.

Posted by OldSpook 2013-08-17 20:19|| 2013-08-17 20:19|| Front Page Top

#9 Forgot to put the smiley on that one, lest people take it seriously. Or maybe we should?

Posted by OldSpook 2013-08-17 20:21|| 2013-08-17 20:21|| Front Page Top

#10 "lest people take it seriously. Or maybe we should?"

I dunno, OS.

I've been thinking recently that I hope my father's birth and upbringing in San Antonio, and my living there when I was a baby, will qualify me for "right of return" to Texas if they declare independence (though hope I won't need it for the next few years, until I retire).

Maybe Sgt. Mom and Blondie would put in a good word for me too.

Posted by Barbara 2013-08-17 21:54|| 2013-08-17 21:54|| Front Page Top

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