T-Minus Space Daily Are satellites vulnerable to eavesdropping?
Oct 14, 2025
In today's discussion, David Barnhart, CEO and Founder of Arcasys, shares insights on the company's new role managing the Astrobee robots aboard the ISS. He highlights the growing need for in-space marketplaces and how this mission supports ISAM adoption. David also discusses the implications of recent research revealing that many geostationary satellite signals are vulnerable to eavesdropping, raising questions about data security in space. Get ready for a peek into the future of commercial space operations!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Many GEO Satellite Links Are Unencrypted
- A UC San Diego and UMD study found large amounts of geostationary cellular backhaul traffic are transmitted unencrypted.
- Researchers intercepted calls, SMS, in-flight internet, and critical infrastructure data with an ~$800 receiver.
Low-Cost Tools Enable Wide Eavesdropping
- The team used commercially available, low-cost equipment to capture sensitive communications.
- Their San Diego antenna picked up corporate, military, and consumer traffic revealing locations and contents.
Captured Traffic Included Military And Law Enforcement
- From one antenna location researchers accessed only ~15% of GEO satellites but found sensitive U.S. and Mexican military and law enforcement communications.
- The study implies far more unencrypted backhaul likely exists beyond what they captured.