Drones unleash new threat by tapping into underwater secrets
Scientists from Princeton and MIT have developed technology that enables drones to intercept underwater communications, posing a new security threat.
Researchers from Princeton and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have created an innovative method that allows drones to capture underwater acoustic messages. "This work shows that sensitive information can be leaked in ways that previously haven't been considered," said Poorya Mollahosseini, a co-author of the study. This technology challenges previous assumptions about the security of underwater transmissions.
How do drones intercept underwater messages?
The research team developed a radar device to eavesdrop on underwater acoustic signals. This technique involves decoding minor vibrations that signals generate on the water's surface. Tests conducted in a pool using a commercial drone and radar demonstrated that the system could decode messages even amidst interference.
Scientists also conducted tests in a real-world environment at Carnegie Lake in Princeton. The results showed the system could determine unknown parameters and decode messages with 97.58% accuracy. This technology proved effective even with disturbances caused by wind and waves.
The technology can be used to intercept data
This technology poses new security threats as it can intercept sensitive data from climate monitoring sensors, drilling platforms, or submarines. Yasaman Ghasempour from Princeton emphasizes that the team's intention is to warn about the vulnerabilities of underwater transmissions and discuss methods to prevent interception.
The research revealed that the design parameters of underwater communication links significantly impact their vulnerability to attacks. The team provided recommendations for designing transmitters that are more resistant to eavesdropping. The National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, and the Project X Innovation Fund from Princeton University supported the work on this technology.
