The facts about GPS/GSM Jamming

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The facts about GPS/GSM Jamming
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Jamming and Stolen Vehicle Recovery

• Any radio based system is susceptible to attack
  through jamming but GPS and GSM are particularly
  vulnerable
• Blocking the GPS / GSM receiver will potentially
  render a vehicle un-trackable
• Both GPS and GSM jammers are commonly available
  despite attempts by OfCom to limit their sale.
  This is not the case for other technologies
• Jamming GSM
• Stops any communication with the service provider
  (although locations may still be stored in the
  unit)
• Prevents an approximate location being obtained
  from the cell site
• Jamming GPS
• Prevents an accurate location being obtained -
  permanently
• Given the extremely low power levels utilised by
  GPS, this is the easiest technology of all to
  defeat

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GPS Jamming

• Low-level jamming can completely block satellite
  signal or induce position errors.
• An airborne 10 Watt battery-powered jammer can
  cover hundreds of square miles and cost only 40
  in parts
• Something much less powerful will prevent
  car-based systems from operating
• Jammers can be built by people with basic
  technical competence from readily available
  commercial components and publicly available
  information
• GPS Repeaters make excellent jamming devices
• Jammers are readily available from numerous
  sources

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GPS Facts

• 31 active satellites orbiting at 11,000 miles
• Fully operational in 1995
• Signal strength is 0.0000000000000001 Watts at
  the receiver the equivalent of viewing a 25W
  light bulb in Los Angeles from London
• Signals from at least 4 satellites are needed to
  determine an accurate position (latitude,
  longitude, altitude).
• Selective Access (S/A) - the Defense Department
  originally reduced position accuracy to 100m for
  Civilian applications
• S/A was turned off in May 2000 and could be
  reactivated at any time by the Pentagon
• There is some doubt regarding the reliability of
  the GPS satellite network going forward

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Approaches Used to Defeat Commercial GPS Receivers

• Blocking Damage antenna, or shield it with
  metal
• Jamming Easy to build or buy. complete
  information is on the Internet)
• Spoofing Generate fake satellite signals (and
  therefore fake location information)

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Examples of Portable GPS Simulators Repeaters
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Examples of Portable GPS/GSM Jammers Available
Now!
97
215
59
35
70
53 GPSGSM
26 GPSGSM
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GPS Issues in SVR Applications

• Reduced number of installation solutions over
  competing technologies
• Effect of screening by metalwork
• Limited view of the sky
• Delays satellite acquisition
• Reduces location accuracy
• Makes covert installations problematic
• Antenna orientation problems
• Exacerbates Urban Canyoning effect

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Jamming - GPS Vs VHF
GPS TRACKER VHF
Jammers Commercially Available Ubiquitous None Known
Published Designs for DIY Devices Yes None Known
Jamming Signal Required Microwatts Tens of Watts
Jamming Signal Subject to Tracking by Police No Yes
Susceptible to Spoofing Yes No
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GPS Future Vulnerability

• Signal strength will increase, but there will
  be no encryption or authentication of the
  civilian GPS signal until at least 2018, if
  then.

• Source Los Alamos National Laboratory
  Vulnerability Assessment Team

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Conclusion

• Although GPS/GSM systems have their part to play,
  there is over-reliance on this technology for
  Stolen Vehicle Recovery and other security
  applications
• Current UK standards (Cat 5, TQA etc.) do not
  recognise the impact of GPS GSM vulnerability
  and the increasing availability of jamming
  devices
• There is growing recognition by the general
  public and Police of GPS/GSM vulnerability
• The TRACKER / LoJack VHF and other terrestrial
  systems are far less susceptible to this form of
  attack and jamming devices are not readily
  available
• The best approach is a multi-platform solution
  that provides multiple means of location and
  communication. Such a system will be far more
  difficult to defeat using jamming techniques and
  would require the use of multiple
  counter-measures. TRACKER Locate will be
  launched in September 2009 to specifically meet
  this need.

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The Academic Viewpoint

• Civilian GPS was not designed, and was
  never intended, for security applications. If
  you are relying on GPS cargo tracking systems for
  high level security, you should be aware they are
  vulnerable to a number of different kinds of
  attacks, including blocking, jamming, spoofing,
  and physical attacks. Relatively unsophisticated
  adversaries can successfully execute all of these
  attacks
• Roger G. Johnston, Ph.D., CPP Jon S. Warner,
  Ph.D.
• Vulnerability Assessment Team Los Alamos National
  Laboratory September 2003