Comments on: Drone Video Hacks — The Cyber War Salvo http://defensetech.org/2009/12/17/drone-video-hacks-the-cyber-war-salvo/ The Future of the Military, Law Enforcement and National Security Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:29:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: nraddinhttp://defensetech.org/2009/12/17/drone-video-hacks-the-cyber-war-salvo/#comment-191386 nraddin Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:13:49 +0000 http://defensetech.org/?p=5233#comment-191386 I am a ltitle confused as to how this happens. End point encryption is only expensive in the box not the band and even cheap (sub $1) CPUs on todays market could handle just enough encryption to make the data useless. (Time being a key factor in intel). I am a ltitle confused as to how this happens. End point encryption is only expensive in the box not the band and even cheap (sub $1) CPUs on todays market could handle just enough encryption to make the data useless. (Time being a key factor in intel).

]]> By: Maxhttp://defensetech.org/2009/12/17/drone-video-hacks-the-cyber-war-salvo/#comment-191224 Max Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:31:59 +0000 http://defensetech.org/?p=5233#comment-191224 Someone ought to pay a heavy price at the Pentagon for this bit of stupidity. But sometimes stupid people are promoted precisely BECAUSE they are stupid, so I don't expect anything to happen. It's a shame. Someone ought to pay a heavy price at the Pentagon for this bit of stupidity. But sometimes stupid people are promoted precisely BECAUSE they are stupid, so I don’t expect anything to happen. It’s a shame.

]]> By: Ryan Taylorhttp://defensetech.org/2009/12/17/drone-video-hacks-the-cyber-war-salvo/#comment-191190 Ryan Taylor Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:19:56 +0000 http://defensetech.org/?p=5233#comment-191190 you know, all the stories have mentioned that these guys were supported in this by Iran. How do we know that? What is the link? I dont doubt it or anything, I just wonder how they came to that conclusion. Does anyone have some info? you know, all the stories have mentioned that these guys were supported in this by Iran. How do we know that? What is the link?

I dont doubt it or anything, I just wonder how they came to that conclusion. Does anyone have some info?

]]> By: DualityOfManhttp://defensetech.org/2009/12/17/drone-video-hacks-the-cyber-war-salvo/#comment-191188 DualityOfMan Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:07:58 +0000 http://defensetech.org/?p=5233#comment-191188 Wow... they actually were using communications that just anybody could tap into with virtually no effort? Seriously? Wow… they actually were using communications that just anybody could tap into with virtually no effort? Seriously?

]]> By: Byron Skinnerhttp://defensetech.org/2009/12/17/drone-video-hacks-the-cyber-war-salvo/#comment-191182 Byron Skinner Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:52:27 +0000 http://defensetech.org/?p=5233#comment-191182 Good Morning Folks,I totally agree with "I Love this.", it appears to be "much to do about nothing". Problem discovered, problem dealt with, end of story. It appears that the video interception happened in Iraq in the 04-05 period and didn't involve any data or audio intercepts. The video was compressed and would from the samples I've seen of little value. Goggle Earth would provide far more usable information to terrorists.Here's some fun, if your bored this weekend. Of you have a laptop with wireless, turn on its wireless search mode and cruse around the neighborhood and tap into all the unprotected wireless routers and local networks, I wouldn't be surprised that you would find out what everybody is getting for Christmas.ALLONS, Byron Skinner Good Morning Folks,

I totally agree with “I Love this.”, it appears to be “much to do about nothing”. Problem discovered, problem dealt with, end of story. It appears that the video interception happened in Iraq in the 04–05 period and didn’t involve any data or audio intercepts. The video was compressed and would from the samples I’ve seen of little value. Goggle Earth would provide far more usable information to terrorists.

Here’s some fun, if your bored this weekend. Of you have a laptop with wireless, turn on its wireless search mode and cruse around the neighborhood and tap into all the unprotected wireless routers and local networks, I wouldn’t be surprised that you would find out what everybody is getting for Christmas.

ALLONS,
Byron Skinner

]]> By: Willhttp://defensetech.org/2009/12/17/drone-video-hacks-the-cyber-war-salvo/#comment-191181 Will Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:48:34 +0000 http://defensetech.org/?p=5233#comment-191181 The AP article mentions that this was a consequence of the use of commercial, of the shelf technology. While security should be built in rather than added later as Coleman mentions, sometimes you'd rather have the imperfect now rather than the perfected later. There's no question the MQ-1s & MQ-9s are worth so much that a few com intercepts are an acceptable trade-off. Especially since these are only com intercepts, not loss of control. US forces are traditionally less than careful about com security. It starts with little things like unit commanders always having the unit call sign + "6" as their personal call sign. The AP article mentions that this was a consequence of the use of commercial, of the shelf technology. While security should be built in rather than added later as Coleman mentions, sometimes you’d rather have the imperfect now rather than the perfected later. There’s no question the MQ-1s & MQ-9s are worth so much that a few com intercepts are an acceptable trade-off. Especially since these are only com intercepts, not loss of control.
US forces are traditionally less than careful about com security. It starts with little things like unit commanders always having the unit call sign + “6” as their personal call sign.

]]> By: Armchair Warlordhttp://defensetech.org/2009/12/17/drone-video-hacks-the-cyber-war-salvo/#comment-191135 Armchair Warlord Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:54:35 +0000 http://defensetech.org/?p=5233#comment-191135 I love this. The military releases info about a security breach AFTER THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED and people act like it's the end of the world. When fixing a known problem would be a huge hassle, when the enemy hasn't exploited that known problem for several years (that's the kicker - the bad guys guys were clueless for YEARS) and when the consequences of that exploitation are minor (and any explotative action taken on their part could be exploited by us in turn), waiting to fix things until when/if the bad guys catch on is really pretty understandable. No missions were compromised, no bad guys got any actionable intel (we may have bored them to death) or new info on us they didn't already have, no friendlies were hurt, corrective action has been taken, move along folks. I love this. The military releases info about a security breach AFTER THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED and people act like it’s the end of the world. When fixing a known problem would be a huge hassle, when the enemy hasn’t exploited that known problem for several years (that’s the kicker — the bad guys guys were clueless for YEARS) and when the consequences of that exploitation are minor (and any explotative action taken on their part could be exploited by us in turn), waiting to fix things until when/if the bad guys catch on is really pretty understandable.

No missions were compromised, no bad guys got any actionable intel (we may have bored them to death) or new info on us they didn’t already have, no friendlies were hurt, corrective action has been taken, move along folks.

]]> By: Ptsfphttp://defensetech.org/2009/12/17/drone-video-hacks-the-cyber-war-salvo/#comment-191132 Ptsfp Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:11:45 +0000 http://defensetech.org/?p=5233#comment-191132 Price, I have to agree with Kevin on this one, security should have been thought of in the design. Secure computer communication encryption techniques existed in 1995 when the predator went live. DES (Data Encryption Standard) existed in 1975... The standard was created by IBM at the government's request to encrypt non-classified sensitive information. Triple DES (A much more secure version) was released in 1998. An unencrypted signal should never have been available to snatch out of the air in the first place. If cyber security/ practices were more of a priority from day one, we would not have to be spending money we don't have to upgrade. Sadly, even to this day, security is put on the back burner and even cut out to meet budget restraints. Ptsfp Price, I have to agree with Kevin on this one, security should have been thought of in the design. Secure computer communication encryption techniques existed in 1995 when the predator went live.

DES (Data Encryption Standard) existed in 1975… The standard was created by IBM at the government’s request to encrypt non-classified sensitive information. Triple DES (A much more secure version) was released in 1998.

An unencrypted signal should never have been available to snatch out of the air in the first place. If cyber security/ practices were more of a priority from day one, we would not have to be spending money we don’t have to upgrade. Sadly, even to this day, security is put on the back burner and even cut out to meet budget restraints.

Ptsfp

]]> By: TMBhttp://defensetech.org/2009/12/17/drone-video-hacks-the-cyber-war-salvo/#comment-191130 TMB Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:56:46 +0000 http://defensetech.org/?p=5233#comment-191130 Hey Byron, its not just a Clinton issue - the sale of bandwidth continues to this day. Spectrum is big business for the nation, and usually bad for the military. Recall the recent switch away from analog television? That's because there's a market for those frequencies. The recent push for 3G cell phone communications also included a sale of military-related bandwidth. Hey Byron, its not just a Clinton issue — the sale of bandwidth continues to this day. Spectrum is big business for the nation, and usually bad for the military. Recall the recent switch away from analog television? That’s because there’s a market for those frequencies. The recent push for 3G cell phone communications also included a sale of military-related bandwidth.

]]> By: Valcanhttp://defensetech.org/2009/12/17/drone-video-hacks-the-cyber-war-salvo/#comment-191123 Valcan Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:58:47 +0000 http://defensetech.org/?p=5233#comment-191123 WTF i agree wit others some one didnt drop the ball though. They spiked the ball and shot it with a 12ga. This is the reason so many have wondered at switching to drones for everything. If they can do this imagine what the chinese or russians could do. And who thinks they wouldnt sell the info? WTF i agree wit others some one didnt drop the ball though. They spiked the ball and shot it with a 12ga.

This is the reason so many have wondered at switching to drones for everything.

If they can do this imagine what the chinese or russians could do. And who thinks they wouldnt sell the info?

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