[ISN] Chinese Military Suspected in Hacker Attacks on U.S. Satellites

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-27/chinese-military-suspected-in-hacker-attacks-on-u-s-satellites.html

By Tony Capaccio and Jeff Bliss
Bloomberg
Oct 26, 2011

Computer hackers, possibly from the Chinese military, interfered with 
two U.S. government satellites four times in 2007 and 2008 through a 
ground station in Norway, according to a congressional commission.

The intrusions on the satellites, used for earth climate and terrain 
observation, underscore the potential danger posed by hackers, according 
to excerpts from the final draft of the annual report by the U.S.-China 
Economic and Security Review Commission. The report is scheduled to be 
released next month.

“Such interference poses numerous potential threats, particularly if 
achieved against satellites with more sensitive functions,” according to 
the draft. “Access to a satellite‘s controls could allow an attacker to 
damage or destroy the satellite. An attacker could also deny or degrade 
as well as forge or otherwise manipulate the satellite’s transmission.”

A Landsat-7 earth observation satellite system experienced 12 or more 
minutes of interference in October 2007 and July 2008, according to the 
report.

Hackers interfered with a Terra AM-1 earth observation satellite twice, 
for two minutes in June 2008 and nine minutes in October that year, the 
draft says, citing a closed-door U.S. Air Force briefing.

[...]

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