4 ms·

Using radio spectrum detection methods is probably effective against the script kiddies of the drone world, but to sell the idea that this could defend motivate

Using radio spectrum detection methods is probably effective against the script kiddies of the drone world, but to sell the idea that this could defend motivated, funded attackers, operating with murderous intent, feels like The Illusion of Safety and a heaping spoonful of snake oil at best. Serious combatants will not be using wifi/cellular 4G LTE drones they bought off the shelf at Best Buy. Or, I mean maybe they will be in the picture but as decoys, why not? The point being, that obviously a kamikaze DJI drone is some simple simon nonsense, and I would not bet my life on a team of corporate product managers selling some agile/scrum developed MVP product line that relies on sniffing for consumer band radio telemetry.

jonathankoren 8y ago
> Serious combatants will not be using wifi/cellular 4G LTE drones they bought off the shelf at Best Buy. ISIS was using DJI drones[0] effectively[1][3]. There’s even been drone swarms using commercial drones in Ukraine.[2]. Even well funded armies like the IDF are using these things.[4] Weaponizing hobby drones has been happening for a long time now. [0] https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/mb9wmb/isis-will-no-longer-be-able-to-use-dji-drones-as-weapons-in-most-of-iraq-and-syria https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/mb9wmb/isis-will-no-long... [1] (content warning: the propaganda video linked to i this article shows a death.) https://www.funker530.com/abrams-tank-commander/ https://www.funker530.com/abrams-tank-commander/ [2] https://globalnews.ca/news/4236518/the-new-drone-warfare/ https://globalnews.ca/news/4236518/the-new-drone-warfare/ [3] https://www.c4isrnet.com/unmanned/uas/2018/01/05/how-650-drones-are-creating-problems-in-iraq-and-syria/ https://www.c4isrnet.com/unmanned/uas/2018/01/05/how-650-dro... [4] https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2018/06/18/first-isis-iraq-now-israel-idf-use-commercial-drones/ https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2018/06/18/first-isis-i...
- nasredin 8y ago
  Another way drones are weaponized is for information warfare, e.g. ISIS propaganda showing their SVBIED attacks.
mikec3010 8y ago
> Serious combatants will not be using wifi/cellular 4G LTE drones if you precalculated its path, you could probably navigate by inertial methods using gyros/accelerometers allowing you to be completely dark in the RF spectrum.
- trocadero 8y ago
  You probably don't even need to do that. Facial recognition is to the point where a drone can navigate to a predefined area and find a specific person before detonating. Especially in a situation like this where a politician is giving a speech at a very specific known location (i.e. behind the podium on the platform).
- Tuxer 8y ago
  GPS is passive only, you’re not emitting on the RF spectrum to get a fix
  - kevin_thibedeau 8y ago
    The RF downmixer used by the receiver does radiate.
    - mikec3010 8y ago
      Not sure if its the same thing but I think rx radios have an "IF" - internal frequency, which could also be disrupted if it wasn't shielded.

jonathankoren 8y ago

> Serious combatants will not be using wifi/cellular 4G LTE drones they bought off the shelf at Best Buy. ISIS was using DJI drones[0] effectively[1][3]. There’s even been drone swarms using commercial drones in Ukraine.[2]. Even well funded armies like the IDF are using these things.[4] Weaponizing hobby drones has been happening for a long time now. [0] https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/mb9wmb/isis-will-no-longer-be-able-to-use-dji-drones-as-weapons-in-most-of-iraq-and-syria https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/mb9wmb/isis-will-no-long... [1] (content warning: the propaganda video linked to i this article shows a death.) https://www.funker530.com/abrams-tank-commander/ https://www.funker530.com/abrams-tank-commander/ [2] https://globalnews.ca/news/4236518/the-new-drone-warfare/ https://globalnews.ca/news/4236518/the-new-drone-warfare/ [3] https://www.c4isrnet.com/unmanned/uas/2018/01/05/how-650-drones-are-creating-problems-in-iraq-and-syria/ https://www.c4isrnet.com/unmanned/uas/2018/01/05/how-650-dro... [4] https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2018/06/18/first-isis-iraq-now-israel-idf-use-commercial-drones/ https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2018/06/18/first-isis-i...

nasredin 8y ago
Another way drones are weaponized is for information warfare, e.g. ISIS propaganda showing their SVBIED attacks.

mikec3010 8y ago

> Serious combatants will not be using wifi/cellular 4G LTE drones if you precalculated its path, you could probably navigate by inertial methods using gyros/accelerometers allowing you to be completely dark in the RF spectrum.

trocadero 8y ago
You probably don't even need to do that. Facial recognition is to the point where a drone can navigate to a predefined area and find a specific person before detonating. Especially in a situation like this where a politician is giving a speech at a very specific known location (i.e. behind the podium on the platform).
Tuxer 8y ago
GPS is passive only, you’re not emitting on the RF spectrum to get a fix
- kevin_thibedeau 8y ago
  The RF downmixer used by the receiver does radiate.
  - mikec3010 8y ago
    Not sure if its the same thing but I think rx radios have an "IF" - internal frequency, which could also be disrupted if it wasn't shielded.