A look at cyber threats targeting our space environment
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A look at cyber threats targeting our space environment
1 is space and cyber security critical ?
Space systems are becoming more economic , more reliable and highly saleable . Space technology is now intrinsic to our lives . The means by which society manages itself is migrating to space , and our dependency on it is growing quickly . Satellite communications systems carry huge volumes of data around the world . Global Navigation Satellite Systems ( GNSS ) provide data to help us navigate our cars from A to B , and provide precise timing for financial infrastructure , such as fast trade share systems . Earth observation ( EO ) satellites provide imagery to weather forecast , manage disasters and information to maritime logistics systems . However , much like groundbased Information and Communication
David Livingstone Strategic Change Management and Innovation , Chatham House
David manages a virtual cybersecurity task force as part of a world leading think tank in Foreign Affairs Security
Technology ( ICT ) infrastructures , space systems are vulnerable to cyber-attack . If we allow space systems to become easy targets for cyber threats , this leads to increased societal vulnerability .
2
Who wants to attack space systems ?
Cyber threats are varied and complex . They may come from nation states , organised criminal gangs , terrorist groups or individual hackers . Each threat has different motivations and different capabilities , and there is also a potential blurring between the threats ; individual hackers may act on behalf of organised criminal groups , which in turn may act on behalf of nation states . A single hacker may carry out an attack on behalf of a government . Attributing attacks to an individual or group can be very difficult , making the targeting of responses problematic . Active threats may seek to achieve several goals : theft of valuable intellectual property or cash ; reconnaissance of critical infrastructure that can be attacked in times of tension
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