Friday, December 13, 2024

The Real-Time GPS Spoofing Map

GPS Spoofing map showing lots of spoofing activity in Eastern Europe and the Middle East

Airlines around the world are reporting an increase in GPS spoofing and jamming incidents. GPS spoofing involves deliberately transmitting false GPS signals to trick a GPS receiver into believing it is in the wrong location. This manipulation can lead to navigation errors and pose significant security risks.

GPS jamming, on the other hand, involves intentionally blocking or interfering with GPS signals using a device called a GPS jammer. These devices transmit radio signals on the same frequency as GPS satellites, disrupting the ability of GPS receivers to pick up the legitimate signals needed to function. A GPS device receiving a jammed signal becomes unable to determine its true location.

As expected, GPS spoofing and jamming are most often encountered in conflict zones. For instance, in 2022, Space reported that Russia was jamming GPS signals during its invasion of Ukraine. Additionally, since Finland and Norway joined NATO, the Baltic region has experienced a marked increase in GPS jamming, which is widely attributed to Russian activity.

SkAI Data Services' Live GPS Spoofing and Jamming Tracker Map is an interactive map that uses live ADS-B data from the OpenSky Network to detect spoofed aircraft positions and areas of GPS jamming in real-time across the globe. As shown in the screenshot at the top of this post, the map currently highlights high levels of GPS spoofing and jamming activity in the Eastern Mediterranean, Eastern Europe, and the Baltics.

Similarly, FlightRadar's GPS Jamming Map analyzes NIC (navigation integrity category) data to determine where in the world GPS signals are currently being jammed or experiencing interference. NIC is a metric used to determine the quality and the consistency of navigational data received by aircraft and this metric indicates the reliability of an aircraft's position data. FlightRadar uses the NIC values of planes around the world to determine where GPS jamming or interference is currently affecting GPS signals.

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