US Military Offers A Reward To Satellite Hackers

Since 2020, the US military has been staging a satellite hacking contest at the DEFCON hacker convention. Those satellites, however, were not in space and were on the ground. And now a number of hacker groups are using their skills on a military-backed job totake control of an orbiting US satellite.

For the first time, participants in the competition will attempt to take control of a satellite actually orbiting in space. This competition will use teams of hackers from all over the world against each other as they attempt to breach the satellite Moonlighter.

The US Air Force and Space Force are backing this premier mission for hackers to penetrate an orbiting satellite, with the aim to secure space systems and identify security gaps that could be exploited by other countries. Five teams of hackers are competing at the DEF CON cyber security conference in Las Vegas to remotely seize control of Space Force satellite Moonlighter, currently spinning in Earth’s low orbit.

Along with trying to break in and build a data link to the satellite, hackers are also trying to keep enemy teams out of their own vulnerable system by using encryption and firewall protections. The satellite is zooming around the earth at about five miles per second, Air Force and Space Force staffers have said.

The event, which comes with a $50,000 prize for first place, may feel like a fun, sci-fi thriller, but it also reflects the growing danger of America’s enemies developing cyber capabilities to infiltrate and block US defenses.

In 2018 Chinese hackers focused on an unidentified company’s satellite communications operator in what appeared to be a mission both to spy on and explore how to gain control of the satellites, according to a report by cyber security research firm Symantec. It’s unclear if the attempt was successful.

Russia has also been improving its satellite-hacking capabilities in Ukraine after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it infiltrated the satellite network of US-based telecommunications company Viasat.

Politico:     Symantec:     Giant Freakin Robot:     Newsweek:     The Register:     GBHackers

___________________________________________________________________________________________

If you like this website and use the comprehensive 6,500-plus service supplier Directory, you can get unrestricted access, including the exclusive in-depth Directors Report series, by signing up for a Premium Subscription.

  • Individual £5 per month or £50 per year. Sign Up
  • Multi-User, Corporate & Library Accounts Available on Request

Cyber Security Intelligence: Captured Organised & Accessible


 

« Police Error Exposes Personal Data Of Crime Victims
US Defense Agency Announces Major AI Challenge »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Check Point

Directory of Suppliers

Jooble

Jooble

Jooble is a job search aggregator operating in 71 countries worldwide. We simplify the job search process by displaying active job ads from major job boards and career sites across the internet.

Syxsense

Syxsense

Syxsense brings together endpoint management and security for greater efficiency and collaboration between IT management and security teams.

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout enables cyber security professionals to reduce cyber risk to their organization with proactive security solutions, providing immediate improvement in security posture and ROI.

BackupVault

BackupVault

BackupVault is a leading provider of automatic cloud backup and critical data protection against ransomware, insider attacks and hackers for businesses and organisations worldwide.

CSI Consulting Services

CSI Consulting Services

Get Advice From The Experts: * Training * Penetration Testing * Data Governance * GDPR Compliance. Connecting you to the best in the business.

Maureen Data Systems (MDS)

Maureen Data Systems (MDS)

Our mission at Maureen Data Systems is to digitally transform business environments with the use of cloud infrastructure, security and privacy controls, data analytics, and managed services.

Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD)

Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD)

The Israel National Cyber Directorate is the national security and technological agency responsible for defending Israel’s national cyberspace and for establishing and advancing Israel’s cyber power.

AcceptLocal

AcceptLocal

AcceptLocal is a payments industry consultancy with expertise in payment processing, payment security, anti-money laundering and fraud prevention.

BetterCloud

BetterCloud

BetterCloud puts IT in control of the modern workplace through user lifecycle management, data discovery, and IT and security automation purpose-built for SaaS.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

Tata Consultancy Services is a global leader in IT services, consulting & business solutions including cyber security.

Crypto4A Technologies

Crypto4A Technologies

Crypto4A quantum-ready cybersecurity solutions significantly improve protection for Cloud, loT, Blockchain, V2X, government and military application deployments.

ConvergeOne

ConvergeOne

ConvergeOne is a leading global IT services provider of collaboration and technology solutions including cybersecurity.

CyberCX

CyberCX

CyberCX provides services from strategic consulting, security testing and training to world-class managed services and engineering solutions.

Secure Ideas

Secure Ideas

Secure Ideas is focused on penetration testing and application security including web applications, web services and mobile applications.

Tapestry Technologies

Tapestry Technologies

Tapestry Technologies supports the Department of Defense in shaping its approach to cybersecurity.

Absa Cybersecurity Academy

Absa Cybersecurity Academy

Absa Cybersecurity Academy is an initiative aimed at empowering marginalised South African youths to become certified cybersecurity specialists.

Fusion Risk Management

Fusion Risk Management

Fusion Risk Management focuses on operational resilience encompassing business continuity, risk management, IT risk, and crisis and incident management.

MyCena

MyCena

MyCena has developed a complete system of security, control and management for decentralised credentials.

BastionZero

BastionZero

BastionZero is leveraging cryptography to reimagine the tools used to manage remote access to servers, containers, clusters, applications and databases across cloud and on-prem environments.

Ofcom

Ofcom

Ofcom is the UK's communications regulator. We regulate the TV, radio and video on demand sectors, fixed line telecoms, mobiles, postal services, plus the airwaves over which wireless devices operate.

Argenta Talent Acquisition

Argenta Talent Acquisition

Argenta Talent Acquisition is a recruitment partner specializing in Space and Defense, Intelligence Community, all things Technical, Cyber, and Logistics.