Researchers at a university lab have successfully hacked a government DHS-owned unmanned aerial vehicle, known as a “drone” in a low-buck challenge.  The research team at University of Texas at Austin built a device that was able to spoof critical GPS systems on the drone craft with components totaling in the neighborhood of $1000.  The system apparently posed as legitimate GPS signals, and was able to submit new commands to the craft.

After DHS gained control back, the challenge was made to the researchers to try the hack again.  That next attempt was also successful.  Professor Todd Humphreys, the lead researcher adds:

“Spoofing a GPS receiver on a UAV is just another way of hijacking a plane,” Humphreys tells Fox. The real danger here, however, is that the government is currently considering plans that will allow local law enforcement agencies and other organizations from coast-to-coast to control drones of their own in America’s airspace.”

Of the many serious questions this raises is the integrity of our security infrastructure.   With low-buck technology  the GPS system is clearly vulnerable and that endangers the many systems that are dependent on its availability and integrity.  The question is – what means are available to secure this ecosystem of technology.  Whether it be technological, logistical, or custodial type of security approach, more needs to be done, to say the least.  Details on the technical aspects of the hack have thankfully not been publicly disclosed.