Airlines are on high alert for cyber attacks targeting onboard flight tracking.

Airlines are now facing a serious risk from new GPS spoofing technology, which can mess up an aircraft’s location. This type of cyber attack can make planes go off course and even affect onboard clocks.

Cybersecurity experts have warned that these attacks use fake GPS signals from the ground to mislead aircraft, potentially causing confusion for drones or missiles. A British cybersecurity firm, speaking at the DEF CON hacking conference in Las Vegas, noted that GPS is not just for positioning but also for timing, and spoofing can cause onboard clocks to act strangely.

GPS has replaced expensive ground-based systems for guiding planes, but it can be easily disrupted with cheap equipment. Airlines use satellite-based systems for real-time tracking, which can also be manipulated.

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Aircraft rely on satellite-based aviation technology for real-time location tracking, as ground-based transmitters are too costly for airlines. Unfortunately, this technology is also susceptible to manipulation, which can lead to false location data being sent to aircraft.

Such falsified information can cause airlines to veer off course and become disoriented in the sky. There is a risk that aircraft could inadvertently enter conflict zones, such as Ukraine-Russia or Israel-Iran, endangering passengers and crew.

Cybersecurity experts are actively working to address these vulnerabilities and enhance safety measures to protect passengers during their flights.