A team of researchers discovers that a big chunk of geostationary satellite data flowing over North America is unencrypted, including data from mobile carriers and the military.

…the recovered data included user SMS and voice call contents, user internet traffic, and cellular network signaling protocols… the team was able to collect unencrypted satellite data “from sea vessels owned by the US military,” along with traffic from multiple organizations within the Mexican government and military, including personnel records, narcotics activity, and military asset tracking…

  • peoplebeproblems@midwest.socialEnglish
    3·
    13 days ago

    So I could potentially be interested in some satellites that have capabilities that are not defined, and one of these things can read the coms?

    Seems like a problem

    • mesa@piefed.socialEnglish
      12·
      12 days ago

      Yes and no.

      For communications sure. For general entertainment or old GOES satelite data, its fun and educational. I got a really good picture of one of the NOAA sats when the California wildfires were picking up and you could see the smoke stretch all the way to canada.

      There’s a guy on YouTube that regularly shows what n orth k orea is watching on their TV channels. Its fascinating.