Researchers expose weak satellite security with cheap equipment
US researchers intercepted private and military data from satellites using equipment worth €500, exposing serious encryption failures across global satellite networks.
Scientists in the US have shown how easy it is to intercept private messages and military information from satellites using equipment costing less than €500.
Researchers from the University of California, San Diego and the University of Maryland scanned internet traffic from 39 geostationary satellites and 411 transponders over seven months.
They discovered unencrypted data, including phone numbers, text messages, and browsing history from networks such as T-Mobile, TelMex, and AT&T, as well as sensitive military communications from the US and Mexico.
The researchers used everyday tools such as TV satellite dishes to collect and decode the signals, proving that anyone with a basic setup and a clear view of the sky could potentially access unprotected data.
They said there is a ‘clear mismatch’ between how satellite users assume their data is secured and how it is handled in reality. Despite the industry’s standard practice of encrypting communications, many transmissions were left exposed.
Companies often avoid stronger encryption because it increases costs and reduces bandwidth efficiency. The researchers noted that firms such as Panasonic could lose up to 30 per cent in revenue if all data were encrypted.
While intercepting satellite data still requires technical skill and precise equipment alignment, the study highlights how affordable tools can reveal serious weaknesses in global satellite security.
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