Did you know that a single day of GNSS outage can cost the US economy an estimated $1 billion?
GPS and GNSS devices have never been more widely used. From smartphone apps like Pokémon GO to automated military devices, they’re a crucial part of our daily lives. But their convenience and popularity make them a target for jamming and spoofing.
If you use GNSS systems, you need to make sure that they’re protected from attack. Otherwise, you risk your income and your reputation – and depending on what you do, you might be putting important positioning data at risk.
Read on, and we’ll tell you how to keep your systems safe.
GNSS Under Attack
As with any form of security, it’s important to understand the threat if you want to protect against it.
With an open-air power level of about -130dBm, GNSS signals are relatively weak. That makes it easy for bad actors to overpower them with stronger signals on the same frequency. This stops the legitimate signals from getting through, and it’s called jamming.
It’s also possible – and affordable – to deceive GNSS receivers by transmitting fake signals. This is called spoofing, and can lead to false information being mistaken for the real thing.
So how can you boost your GNSS security? It’s not as hard as you’d expect!
Controlled Reception Pattern Antennas
Controlled reception pattern antennas, or CRPAs, are one of the best ways to protect against jamming and spoofing attacks.
A CRPA uses an array of antenna elements to factor in the direction that a signal is coming from. Most of the time, a real GNSS signal will arrive from a different direction than a false one. CRPAs use this to block out signals arriving from certain directions, while still letting other signals through.
CRPAs can replace the standard antennas on your GNSS receivers. They don’t need you to make any other changes to the receivers once installed. They work adaptively to filter out bad signals and prevent interference.
CRPA Testing
Like any other security system, CRPAs need regular testing in lab conditions. But as attacks get more sophisticated, testing for jamming and spoofing can be tough.
Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to access affordable, high-quality CRPA testing. Make sure your CRPA capabilities are where they need to be, and you’ll avoid being caught out by interference events.
Prevention is always better than cure, so don’t hesitate because of the expense – you’ll thank us later!
GNSS Systems Go
In a changing world, it’s vital to stay ahead of the game and make sure your GNSS systems aren’t disrupted by an attack.
A forward-thinking approach to GNSS security will pay off in the long term. You’ll gain a reputation for consistency and stability, and build all-important trust with your users.
And remember that outages cost money! Proactive testing now could save you thousands of dollars later on.
If you want to stay up to date with new developments in tech, why not browse some more of our articles? We’re here to help you stay ahead of the curve!
