GPS Attacks Risk Maritime Disaster

Marine navigation systems rely on Global Navigation Satellite Systems, the most familiar being the Global Positioning System (GPS) set up by the U.S. Government. Experts are worried about havoc that could be caused if GNSS signals were illegally jammed.

GPS attacks risk maritime disaster, trading chaos

Jamming of GPS now poses real danger-experts

* Tests show serious impact on ships in English Channel

* GPS “spoofing” could pose serious risk to markets

By Michael Holden

LONDON, Feb 22 (Reuters) – Satellite navigation systems are at risk from criminals, terrorists or even just bored teenagers, with the potential to cause major incidents from maritime disasters to chaos in financial markets, leading experts warned on Wednesday.

From maps on car dashboards and mobile phones, to road tolls, aviation and marine navigation systems and even financial exchanges, much of modern life relies on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) that use satellite signals to find a location or keep exact time.

The familiar Global Positioning System (GPS) set up by the U.S. government, and GLONASS, a similar Russian system, were both built for military purposes but are now available to anyone with a device that can receive a signal. The European Union, China and India are setting up similar systems.

Experts are worried about havoc that could be caused if GNSS signals were illegally jammed, said Bob Cockshott, a director at Britain’s ICT Knowledge Transfer Network – an initiative funded by the UK’s national innovation agency – which is hosting a conference in London on Wednesday.

The problem was illustrated in 2009 when navigation systems at Newark Airport in the United States began suffering daily breakdowns brought about by……….[access full article here]