This is rather shocking. Insurgents in Iraq are using a $25.95 piece of software called SkyGrabber to intercept the live video feeds from the Predator Drones. They can then use the images to evade getting blown to bits.
From The Wall Street Journal:
Senior defense and intelligence officials said Iranian-backed insurgents intercepted the video feeds by taking advantage of an unprotected communications link in some of the remotely flown planes' systems. Shiite fighters in Iraq used software programs such as SkyGrabber -- available for as little as $25.95 on the Internet -- to regularly capture drone video feeds, according to a person familiar with reports on the matter.
U.S. officials say there is no evidence that militants were able to take control of the drones or otherwise interfere with their flights. Still, the intercepts could give America's enemies battlefield advantages by removing the element of surprise from certain missions and making it easier for insurgents to determine which roads and buildings are under U.S. surveillance.
The drone intercepts mark the emergence of a shadow cyber war within the U.S.-led conflicts overseas. They also point to a potentially serious vulnerability in Washington's growing network of unmanned drones, which have become the American weapon of choice in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
[Snip]
U.S. military personnel in Iraq discovered the problem late last year when they apprehended a Shiite militant whose laptop contained files of intercepted drone video feeds. In July, the U.S. military found pirated drone video feeds on other militant laptops, leading some officials to conclude that militant groups trained and funded by Iran were regularly intercepting feeds.
In the summer 2009 incident, the military found "days and days and hours and hours of proof" that the feeds were being intercepted and shared with multiple extremist groups, the person said. "It is part of their kit now."
A senior defense official said that James Clapper, the Pentagon's intelligence chief, assessed the Iraq intercepts at the direction of Defense Secretary Robert Gates and concluded they represented a shortcoming to the security of the drone network.
"There did appear to be a vulnerability," the defense official said. "There's been no harm done to troops or missions compromised as a result of it, but there's an issue that we can take care of and we're doing so."
I cannot believe America paid billions for these drones and no one in military or at General Atomics thought to encrypt the video feeds. Hacking is an all too real possibility and I cannot think of a single system that is not vulnerable to it, so how come no one thought to have some sort of encryption?
Furthermore, Iran’s involvement in this is tantamount to an act of war. Sooner or later Obama and Washington are going to have to deliver a much-needed smack down to Iran. The diplomatic solutions simply are not working.
Via: Memeorandum
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From what I understand, the Iranian citizens would oust the current leaders, but are hesitant due to the lack of resolve of other countries - especially the U.S. - for support of their cause. What amazes me is the total lack of an effort to promote freedom in Iran by the Obama administration. There's no call for a stop to the oppression, or any diplomatic efforts to promote self-determination for the Iranian citizens.
There's something rotten about foreign policy at this time. The bows, lack of pride and apathy to what's good for the United States stinks of sedition. The liberal/progessive/socialist beliefs by many in the leaders that are currently in power indicates the political end justifies the means.
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