GPS spoofing is a technique in which someone deliberately manipulates the signals transmitted by Global Positioning System (GPS). The purpose of this GPS/GNSS jamming is to provide false location or time information to GPS receivers, causing them to display inaccurate location data, potentially causing undesirable effects on navigational systems, devices, and satellite-based applications.
How GPS/GNSS Spoofing Works
The act of GPS spoofing typically involves using a signal generator or other sophisticated equipment to transmit counterfeit GPS signals that are stronger than the genuine satellite signals. These false signals, when picked up by a GPS receiver, can cause it to calculate an incorrect position or time. Sudden changes to position data or GPS signal strength is common evidence of a real-world spoofing event.
Threats of GPS Manipulation to Aviators
GPS signal spoofing can interfere with the operations of autonomous vehicles, a wide range of military systems, and aviation navigation systems (avionics). Accurate GPS data is crucial to the performance of modern avionic systems, including flight computers, autopilots, and collision-avoidance systems. When these systems receive false location or time information, their functionality can be significantly compromised.
Intentional manipulation of GPS/GNSS signals used against aircraft can cause the pilots or operators to lose their actual location and heading. This can cause the aircraft to veer off their intended flight paths, causing confusion for air traffic controllers, and increased potential for in-air collision.
- Governments/military: (defense, sensitive facility protection, tactical warfare, espionage)
- Criminals/hackers: (illegal activities, transportation or communication systems disruption, cargo theft, victim tracking, stalking)
- Researchers/hobbyists: (experimentation, educational research, recreational purposes)
- Private organizations: (location manipulation, competitive advantage, fraud)
State-Sponsored “Bad Actors”
Due to ongoing geopolitical unrest around the world, a growing number of GPS spoofing incidents, have been experienced near areas of turmoil or war. Spoofing from state-sponsors or bad actors raises significant safety concerns for both military and civilian operations.
There are indications that the origins of these spoofing attacks might be linked to nation-states or groups with advanced capabilities, as the required equipment to manipulate GPS signals is highly sophisticated.
As a response to the increasing prevalence of GPS spoofing, various countermeasures are being developed to secure GPS-based systems, including signal strength monitoring, time-of-arrival analysis, and cryptographic authentication. Furthermore, experts suggest the use of multiple satellite navigation systems to cross-verify and validate positioning data, thus minimizing the risk of spoofing attacks.
How to Detect GPS Signal Spoofing
Though, attributing the source of spoofing attacks remains a challenging task, governments and researchers have been working to develop countermeasures and more secure systems to protect against GPS spoofing threats. New methods are becoming more accurate, faster, and can better avoid manipulation but current ways to detect signal manipulation include:
- Signal strength monitoring: By analyzing the strength of received GPS signals, systems can identify unusually high signal strength levels, which may indicate a spoofing attempt. Authentic GPS signals are relatively weak, so abnormally strong signals could point to interference.
- Time-of-Arrival analysis: Satellite signals arriving at a receiver within specified time windows can also detect GPS anomalies that could indicate a spoofing attempt. In reality, multiple satellite signals would be expected to arrive very close one another.
- Angle-of-Arrival analysis: Using an array of antennas, a GPS signal can be located and confirmed through the receiving signals angle. If a seemingly “authentic” signal angle varies too widely, spoofing may be detected.
- Cross-correlating multiple sources: Some receivers process multiple positioning signals like GLONASS, GPS, BeiDou, or Galileo. These receivers can cross-check information against these different systems. Abnormal variances could indicate a spoofing attack.
- Crowd-sourced detection: Multiple GPS receivers within a given area to share data and collectively determine if their readings are consistent can help identify potential spoofing incidents.
- Cryptographic authentication: The latest advanced GPS receivers use cryptographic methods for verifying a signals authenticity. GPS III satellites with "Galileo Public Regulated Service (PRS)" technology, can provide encrypted and secure positioning data to authorized users.
The best approach to detect and counter GPS spoofing is likely to involve a combination of these technologies and methods. Redundant systems can help to ensure an accurate GPS location and avoid manipulation but no system will be 100% protected. Aviators can verify data using radio signals to help confirm their aircraft’s coordinates.
By employing multiple layers of security, GPS systems can become more resistant to potential spoofing attacks and ensure the accuracy and reliability of the provided location data.