Ship crews reach out for support as Red Sea GPS spoofing climbs to danger levels

Ship crews reach out for support as Red Sea GPS spoofing climbs to danger levels

The spike in physical attacks against shipping by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea has been mirrored by an increase in jamming and spoofing of GPS signals, effectively removing position, navigation and timing information from the control of the ship’s navigators.

Examples have included vessels travelling at supersonic speeds or positioned on land, sometimes in circles surrounding targets that bad actors are trying to protect.

As well as reducing the vessel’s ability to navigate, these RF-cyber attacks can impact mandatory GMDSS safety services, potentially removing the ability of ships to send a distress call.