As humans come to rely on robotics, AI and nanotechnology, one of the key concerns is ensuring that these technologies are secure – i.e., can’t be influenced by external forces who might wish to do us (or the planet) harm. Currently, we’re seeing non-autonomous robots playing an increasingly larger role in fighting wars, and they have been extremely effective. However, in not-so-reassuring news that broke today, we learned that Iraqi insurgents were able to intercept the video feeds of U.S. Predator drones using an inexpensive piece of software, providing them with real-time intelligence on the battlefield. The WSJ reports:
Senior defense and intelligence officials said Iranian-backed insurgents intercepted the video feeds by taking advantage of an unprotected communications link in some of the remotely flown planes’ systems. Shiite fighters in Iraq used software programs such as SkyGrabber — available for as little as $25.95 on the Internet — to regularly capture drone video feeds, according to a person familiar with reports on the matter.
U.S. officials say there is no evidence that militants were able to take control of the drones or otherwise interfere with their flights. Still, the intercepts could give America’s enemies battlefield advantages by removing the element of surprise from certain missions and making it easier for insurgents to determine which roads and buildings are under U.S. surveillance.
[...]U.S. military personnel in Iraq discovered the problem late last year when they apprehended a Shiite militant whose laptop contained files of intercepted drone video feeds. In July, the U.S. military found pirated drone video feeds on other militant laptops, leading some officials to conclude that militant groups trained and funded by Iran were regularly intercepting feeds.
In the summer 2009 incident, the military found “days and days and hours and hours of proof” that the feeds were being intercepted and shared with multiple extremist groups, the person said. “It is part of their kit now.”
If nothing else, let’s hope this is a wake-up call that no technology can be too secure.