"Space Race: Defenses Emerge as Satellite-Focused Cyberattacks Ramp Up"

The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the MITRE Corporation have both released frameworks to help companies and government organizations develop defenses against attacks aimed at satellites and spacecraft. The FBI and the US Homeland Security Department's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warned early in 2022 that attacks against satellite ground-based and space-based infrastructure might become a reality, and they did so shortly thereafter. In 2022, there were nation-state operations aimed at Viasat and SpaceX's Starlink satellites, prompting governments and aerospace firms to develop defenses. In the early days of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Russia-aligned hackers targeted the ground-based component of Viasat's satellite communications network, knocking Internet modems across Europe offline. According to government authorities and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Russia soon after also targeted the distributed satellite Internet provider Starlink, which has been essential for supporting Ukraine with Internet connectivity. Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) sponsored by nation-states are more likely to be the cyberattackers in this domain. However, a significant portion of today's ground-based satellite infrastructure uses common computer and communications technology. The similarities make it easier for attackers to exploit the systems underlying satellite systems, while the complex supply chain makes the infrastructure more vulnerable to attack. This article continues to discuss cyberattacks on the space sector's infrastructure and efforts to bolster the security of this infrastructure. 

Dark Reading reports "Space Race: Defenses Emerge as Satellite-Focused Cyberattacks Ramp Up"