Satellite security is becoming increasingly vital as sectors rely on space-based capabilities ranging from agriculture to finance and insurance.
The first-ever contest featuring white-hat hackers aiming to breach and take control of computer systems on an orbiting satellite will take place at the DEFCON hacking convention in August. The Hack-A-Sat 4 capture-the-flag competition is in retaliation to Russian military hackers’ intrusion on the Viasat KA-SAT European satellite network. The goal of the competition is to highlight the weaknesses of space-based capabilities and to underscore the importance of cybersecurity in the rapidly democratizing space economy.
Previously, ethical hackers from Thales, a French defense and technology corporation, successfully hacked and took control of the European Space Agency’s OPS-SAT satellite. The increasing democratization of space and reliance on common satellite access pose new cybersecurity risks. The biennial Hack-A-Sat competition acts as a forum for addressing these issues and raising awareness about the possible dangers of space-based technology.
Hack-A-Sat 4 will involve teams trying to hack each other’s systems while defending their own, organized by the Air Force Research Laboratory and the United States Space Force. Eight top-scoring teams from various countries will compete in the competition. The hacking attempts will be directed at Moonlighter, a specially constructed satellite. The event not only allows hackers to put their talents to the test, but it also emphasizes the importance of strong cybersecurity safeguards in the face of rising threats to space-based technologies.
