Predator Drone Sat Feeds were unencrpted?

**SpiffWilkie** · 12-17-2009 05:01 PM

From CNN:
Iraqi insurgents hacked Predator drone feeds, U.S. official indicates - CNN.com

Doesn't sound like they were hacked so much as they were ITC.

**Jim S.** · 12-17-2009 05:54 PM

Lots of stuff is unprotected because someone figures that the general public won't know it's even there. The example most people are familiar with was telephone switches, back in the analog days. Many Unix systems also used to ship with minimal security. They were capable of being secure, but only if the users knew what they were doing. By default, if you could log on, there was very little to keep you out of anyone else's business.

Skygrabber's website is currently overloaded (gee, imagine that) but I get the impression from Google that it's a program to capture IP data from satellite -- something that I knew to be possible, but never investigated the particulars of because I don't have a DVB card.

**riffjim4069** · 12-17-2009 06:27 PM

Just wish they would listen to the IA experts --- and policy --- that say they are suppose to 'protect' their information both in transit and at rest. Of course the enemy is going to capture the open feeds! The sad part is --- the vulnerability was not 'unknown' - they just decided to save some money and didn't think the bad guys would notice.

**turbosat** · 12-17-2009 08:47 PM

Hope this gets fixed ASAP, a ridiculous screw-up.

**ikki** · 12-17-2009 10:11 PM

> HD-Lite is a plague on the DBS community; it is the Horizontal Death!

What is this Horizontal Death you speak of?

**digiblur** · 12-17-2009 11:33 PM

Funny thing is I've actually seen that program.

**Dishman Dan** · 12-18-2009 10:03 AM

Maybe "charlie" can help Uncle Sam to hook up with Nagravision 3 and be a hero for once!

**JAS** · 12-18-2009 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by SpiffWilkie

From CNN: [url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/12/17/drone.video.hacked/index.html]Iraqi insurgents hacked Predator drone feeds, U.S. official indicates - Doesn't sound like they were hacked so much as they were ITC.

"A senior defense official who was not authorized to speak" Usually means second urinal from the left.

You never know what is going on. Could have been left open or easy to hack for a reason.

**SatelliteAV** · 12-18-2009 11:04 AM

Or...... just make it "illegal" to monitor these frequencies like they did to protect the cell telephone companies....... LOL!!!

**AcWxRadar** · 12-18-2009 01:17 PM

I just LOVE this phrase:

Originally Posted by Just Another Sucker

"A senior defense official who was not authorized to speak"

Whatever happened to "No Comment"? And if they are not authorized to speak, why do they keep on talking?

"I am not supposed to discuss this, but if you want to know...."
(Just don't use my name.)

What???? Run that by me again, please. What is this? Sounds more like "Pssst! Can you keep a secret? I know something about Bob and Lisa. Guess what they did last weekend at the party!" Giggle Giggle. "Oh! But, don't tell anyone that I told you."

Are sensitive matters of national security no more important than a one night fling at a drunken college party in the eyes of these so called "officials"?

RADAR