Chinese Military May be Hacking US Satellites
Hackers for the Chinese military may have tampered with two United States government satellites, according to a U.S. congressional commission.
The reported satellite hacks transpired four times in 2007 and 2008 through a ground station in Norway.
CNet, a technology website, detailed the hacking incidents: "A Landsat-7 Earth observation satellite system had 12 or more minutes of interference in October 2007 and July 2008, and a Terra AM-1 earth observation satellite experienced two minutes of interference in June 2008 and nine minutes in October 2008. The U.S. - China Economic and Security Review Commission wrote in a draft of its annual report due for release next month. The draft report cited a closed-door U.S. Air Force briefing and did not elaborate on the nature of the interference."
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The news report also specified the dangers of these satellite hacking attempts.
"Such interference poses numerous potential threats, particularly if achieved against satellites with more sensitive functions. Access to a satellite's controls could allow an attacker to damage or destroy the satellite. An attacker could also deny or degrade as well as forge or otherwise manipulate the satellite's transmission,” wrote CNet.
The accusations placed on China are also derived from a statement seen in the draft report. It noted the hacking techniques used are reminiscent of Chinese military methods. The Chinese apparently have ways to disable enemy space systems through "ground-based infrastructure, such as satellite control facilities."
The U.S. satellites were used to observe Earth's ongoing earth climate and terrain structure. China has been blamed for numerous computer attacks on the U.S. in the past, but their government has always denied such claims.
In a statement to Bloomberg Businessweek, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Wang Baodong said that the U.S. - China commission has "been collecting unproved stories to serve its purpose of vilifying China's international image over the years."
Baodong also said that China "never does anything that endangers other countries' security interests."
