The Global Positioning System (GPS) has reached a level of ubiquity akin to that of electricity. It is no longer just a helpful resource for travelers; it is now crucial for the safe landing of aircraft, the navigation of vessels, the synchronization of data in communication networks, and the management of extensive power grid systems.
The accuracy of GPS in terms of positioning and timing has fostered a deep-seated dependency, making it common for us to overlook its value and assume it will invariably be available when we require it.
Originally, GPS was developed to monitor military vehicles and weapon systems, with no expectation of its extensive use in civilian applications. Recent developments have exposed the security vulnerabilities of GPS, which could potentially disrupt not only individual devices but also the critical infrastructure of the nation.
The first risk is associated with a phenomenon that experts are anxious may be becoming a trend—the proliferation of inexpensive GPS jammers.
For a mere $30, one can obtain GPS jammers, referred to as "anti-GPS" devices, for personal use. These devices can be quite diminutive, with some models taking the form of a 12-volt car cigarette lighter power adapter that is connected to an antenna.
Promoted on various online platforms, these gadgets are claimed to protect personal privacy and prevent tracking of individuals' locations. Nonetheless, there have been reports from the UK indicating that such devices can also be employed by criminals and car thieves to disguise their illegal actions.
"It is concerning that factories in China are beginning to manufacture these products," stated Peter Large, vice president of Trimble, a company in Sunnyvale, California that develops advanced positioning systems. He emphasized that if these items gain traction, the consequences could be devastating.
GPS jammers operate by interfering with the frequencies found in one of the commonly used GPS bands. Because GPS signals are weak by nature, utilizing only 25 watts of power to transmit from satellites approximately 12,500 miles away, they are easily subject to interruption or interference from receivers such as portable navigation devices.
Given that car and truck fleet operators usually equip their vehicles with onboard GPS receivers, it is not uncommon for drivers to use signal jammers to evade tracking by their employers.
A November report from the National Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) Advisory Commission, established by the government, stated, "We currently do not have sufficient capabilities to identify and mitigate GPS jammers." The report further elaborated, "It took months to locate the device that was disrupting the new GPS landing system being installed at Newark Airport in New Jersey."
The next iteration of air traffic control systems, which will oversee aircraft during their flights, will be based on GPS signals, departing from the existing framework that employs radar and human oversight.
In conjunction with directing road and marine traffic and managing data and power networks, GPS signals are also responsible for timing traffic lights and ensuring the precision of automated farm equipment in plowing and harvesting operations.
Compromising any of these systems might cause substantial injury.
Trimble's Large pointed out the troubling notion that GPS jammers could be used in a weaponized manner.
The report issued by the National PNT Advisory Commission endorsed the idea that GPS technology, particularly in national security applications like fighter jets and military equipment, should be strengthened to mitigate threats. It also classified GPS as a fundamental aspect of critical infrastructure.
The swift creation and deployment of systems capable of rapidly detecting, mitigating, and shutting down jammers is of utmost importance. Additionally, it is necessary to introduce laws that allow for the arrest and prosecution of individuals who deliberately engage in such activities.
A report from the Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK, published this month, has reached conclusions that are alike.
The findings suggest that global navigation satellite services (GNSS) have become so convenient and widespread for various applications that users often overlook their importance. It highlights that while the loss of these services in a single application may result in only a minor inconvenience, a broader failure affecting multiple systems could lead to more significant and serious outcomes.
The legality of GPS jammers is nonexistent in the United States, with stringent regulations also present in much of Europe. In contrast, the legal status in a number of other countries is somewhat unclear.