Advantages of GPS Security | disadvantages of GPS Spoofing

This page covers GPS spoofing and GPS security to prevent spoofing. It mentions drawbacks or disadvantages of GPS Spoofing and benefits or advantages of GPS security.

Introduction:
As we are aware GPS and GNSS technologies provide RF signals to the GPS/GNSS receivers with the help of satellite constellations. These satellites transmit positioning and timing informations to the receivers on the earth from various directions. The GPS/GNSS receivers use this satellite signals to determine their location in terms of latitude and longitude.

The GPS/GNSS helps in navigation through sea, land and air which is used by ships, vehicles and aeroplanes. It is easy to track the GPS/GNSS receivers with the help of mobile/web apps. The other technologies include Russian GLONASS, European Galileo, Chinese BeiDou, Japanese QZSS, Indian NAVIC system etc. Refer GPS tutorial >> for more information.

What is GPS Spoofing?

Spoofers transmit signal with more power compare to weak GNSS/GPS signals received by receivers. Moreover they carry false positioning information to make GPS receivers believe that they are at false location.

Following are the two types of GPS spoofing.
• Re-broadcast of GNSS/GPS signals recorded at some other place or time
• Hacker generates and transmits modified satellite signals to the target

GPS Spoofing-Ship on normal path

Radio interference overpowers weak GNSS signals and causes signal loss and consecutively positioning loss. During spoofing attack, hacker's radio transmitter located in near vicinity transmits fake GPS signals to the target receiver.

GPS Spoofing-Ship on attacker's path

Example #1: If a smartphone is spoofed by hacker, smartphone user can be made to believe that it's on Mount Everest even if it is not.
Example #2: A ship can be hijacked by GPS spoofing by diverting its path of travel.
Example #3: Drones can be hijacked and it can be redirected towards their army itself.

There are many disadvantages of GPS spoofing which can be overcome by providing GPS security against spoofing. In this technique, fake GPS signals are identified and filtered before it can control the GPS receiver device. Other techniques involved idenfication of spoofed signal and authentic GNSS signal based their received power and signal processing algorithms.

Drawbacks or disadvantages of GPS Spoofing

Following are the drawbacks or disadvantages of GPS Spoofing in various applications.
➨Any GPS receiver can be attacked and hijacked to alter its coarse such as ship hijacking.
➨Any GPS based drone can be attacked and it can be turn towards its own army.
➨Any mobile phone user can be attacked during its travel. He/she can be routed to new location without their knowledge and they can be looted.

Benefits or advantages of GPS Security to prevent spoofing

Following are the benefits or advantages of GPS security implemented to prevent GPS spoofing :
➨It prevents hijacking of the GPS receiver device.
➨It prevents theft of your vehicle and your valuables.
➨It prevents enemy to attack you by your own drones.



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