Decoding Data from Iridium Satellites
rtl-sdr.com
Decoding Data from Iridium Satellites
1–10 of 52 posts
Re: Decoding Data from Iridium Satellites
#2> Later in the presentation he shows some interesting examples such as an intercepted Iridium satellte phone call to a C-37 aircraft.
So Iridium has been cracked, and no reactions so far? Am I missing something? This sounds like a Big Deal.
Re: Decoding Data from Iridium Satellites
#3[deleted]
Re: Decoding Data from Iridium Satellites
#4> Later in the presentation he shows some interesting examples such as an intercepted Iridium satellte phone call to a C-37 aircraft. So Iridium has been cracked, and no reactions so far? Am I missing something? This sounds like a Big Deal.
No. As with other satellite phones, security/encryption is an additional feature that you buy. For everyone else, there's no security/encryption - you just need to implement the system and protocols to tap into it - which is what has been done here.
(And for the parts that have encryption, it's the data that's encrypted, while metadata (e.g. call setup) is still plain text)
Re: Decoding Data from Iridium Satellites
#5It's not surprising considering age of Iridium. Also I believe they don't make lot of money, so any development (also security related) is pretty much ceased.
Re: Decoding Data from Iridium Satellites
#6> Later in the presentation he shows some interesting examples such as an intercepted Iridium satellte phone call to a C-37 aircraft. So Iridium has been cracked, and no reactions so far? Am I missing something? This sounds like a Big Deal.
It sort of like how US drones used to broadcast video unencrypted. They didn't bother since they thought the barrier to entry for seeing the feed was too high, until it wasn't.
Re: Decoding Data from Iridium Satellites
#7> Later in the presentation he shows some interesting examples such as an intercepted Iridium satellte phone call to a C-37 aircraft. So Iridium has been cracked, and no reactions so far? Am I missing something? This sounds like a Big Deal.
No. As with other satellite phones, security/encryption is an additional feature that you buy. For everyone else, there's no security/encryption - you just need to implement the system and protocols to tap into it - which is what has been done here. (And for the parts that have encryption, it's the data that's encrypted, while metadata (e.g. call setup) is still plain text)
That puts it into perspective, thanks.
Interesting that unprotected metadata is something that the US army is willing to accept.
Re: Decoding Data from Iridium Satellites
#8It's not surprising considering age of Iridium. Also I believe they don't make lot of money, so any development (also security related) is pretty much ceased.
They make enough money that they've been able to fund the construction of a new generation of satellites. The first batch is due to launch next month.
Re: Decoding Data from Iridium Satellites
#9> Later in the presentation he shows some interesting examples such as an intercepted Iridium satellte phone call to a C-37 aircraft. So Iridium has been cracked, and no reactions so far? Am I missing something? This sounds like a Big Deal.
No. As with other satellite phones, security/encryption is an additional feature that you buy. For everyone else, there's no security/encryption - you just need to implement the system and protocols to tap into it - which is what has been done here. (And for the parts that have encryption, it's the data that's encrypted, while metadata (e.g. call setup) is still plain text)
Here's a transcript of the intercepted call that they played:
> You have reached the 310 airlift squadron C-37 aircraft, tail number 0028.
> To call the CSL press 1.
> To call secure telephone number one, press 2.
> To call secure telephone number two, press
> Satcom direct Inmarsat connection in progress, please hold while we attempt to connect your call.
> The approximate global connect time is
>
I suppose that selecting to connect to the secure phones could trigger an encryption layer on top of the call.
Re: Decoding Data from Iridium Satellites
#10> Later in the presentation he shows some interesting examples such as an intercepted Iridium satellte phone call to a C-37 aircraft. So Iridium has been cracked, and no reactions so far? Am I missing something? This sounds like a Big Deal.
There was nothing to crack, the only security is in the availability of easy-to-use receivers. Assume that any intelligence agency in the world has an archive of Iridium transmissions going many years back.