A Technical Introduction to Satellite Hacking

Satellite hacking, once the domain of nation-states, is becoming increasingly accessible to independent researchers. Understanding the fundamentals is the first step to securing these critical assets. At its core, satellite communication involves an uplink (ground to satellite), a downlink (satellite to ground), and the signals that carry the data.

Common Attack Vectors

• Signal Jamming: Disrupting communication by overpowering the satellite's signal with noise.
• Signal Interception (Eavesdropping): Capturing the downlink signal to listen in on unencrypted communications. This requires a properly sized dish and the right radio hardware.
• Command Injection: The most sophisticated attack, where an unauthorized user sends commands to the satellite. This could involve altering its orbit, disrupting its service, or even disabling it entirely.

Securing satellites involves robust encryption for both command and telemetry data, authentication to prevent unauthorized commands, and frequency-hopping techniques to mitigate jamming. As the space economy grows, the need for skilled cybersecurity professionals to protect these orbital assets has never been greater.