Researchers show how a major GPS flaw could allow terrorists to hijack planes
The world’s GPS system is vulnerable to terrorists and hackers who could use it to hijack ships, including commercial airliners and cruise ships, a new hands-on study shows.
A team of researchers at the University of Texas were able to take control of the navigation system aboard an $80 million, 210-foot super-yacht in the Mediterranean Sea using a laptop, a small antenna and an electronic GPS ‘spoofer’ built for $3,000, Fox News reports.
‘We injected our spoofing signals into its GPS antennas and we’re basically able to control its navigation system with our spoofing signals,’ Todd Humphreys of UT told the news station. 'Imagine shutting down a port. Imagine running a ship aground. These are the kinds of implications we’re worried about.'
