What types of cybersecurity technologies are used in Defence Drones?

Cybersecurity
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Defence drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are integral to modern military operations due to their versatility in surveillance, reconnaissance, and combat missions. The cybersecurity of these drones is critical to safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining operational integrity. Below are some cybersecurity technologies employed in defence drones:

Drones flying over a circuit board and a shield with a padlock represent the concept of cybersecurity.
Drones flying over a circuit board and a shield with a padlock represent the concept of cybersecurity.1260Ă—720 81 KB

  1. Encryption:

    • Data Encryption: Encryption protects data transmitted between the drone and its control station from interception and tampering. Advanced encryption standards (AES) are commonly used to secure communications such as OpenSSL and GnuPG.
    • End-to-End Encryption: Ensures that data remains encrypted throughout its entire journey from the drone to the ground station, preventing any intermediate parties from accessing the data. For example, Signal Protocol and TLS (Transport Layer Security) are used for this purpose.

  2. Secure Communication Protocols:

    • TLS/SSL: These protocols secure communication channels, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality.
    • Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS): Enhances communication security by rapidly switching frequencies during transmission, making it difficult for adversaries to intercept or jam signals. FHSS is used by XBee modules and ZigBee.

  3. Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS):

    • Network-based IDS (NIDS): These tools (e.g. Snort and Suricata) monitors network traffic for signs of malicious activity, such as unusual communication patterns or unauthorized access attempts.
    • Host-based IDS (HIDS): Monitors the drone’s onboard systems for signs of compromise, such as unauthorized file modifications or suspicious processes. OSSEC and Tripwire are commonly used as HIDS.

  4. Firewalls:

    • Hardware and Software Firewalls: These firewalls (e.g. pfSense, iptables, Cisco ASA, etc.) protect the drone’s onboard systems and the control station by filtering incoming and outgoing traffic to block unauthorized access.

  5. Secure Boot and Firmware Updates:

    • Secure Boot: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) or UEFI Secure Boot ensures that the drone boots only with firmware that is cryptographically signed and verified, preventing the loading of unauthorized or malicious firmware.
    • Firmware Updates: Regular and secure updates are crucial for patching vulnerabilities. Over-the-air updates must be encrypted and authenticated to prevent tampering. Examples of OTA service providers are Mender and SWUpdate.

  6. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):

    • Ensures that only authorized personnel can access the drone’s control systems. MFA typically combines something the user knows (password), something the user has (security token), and something the user is (biometric verification).

  7. Anti-Jamming and Anti-Spoofing Technologies:

    • Anti-Jamming: Utilizes techniques such as spread spectrum and adaptive filtering to resist jamming attacks. For example: Harris Corporation’s Anti-Jamming Solutions and L3Harris Falcon III.
    • Anti-Spoofing: GPSdome and Broadcom’s BCM47755 ensure that the GPS and communication signals received by the drone are legitimate and not spoofed by adversaries.

  8. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML):

    • AI and ML algorithms are used to detect anomalies and predict potential cyber threats based on historical data and patterns. These technologies (e.g. Darktrace, Cylance, Splunk Machine Learning Toolkit, etc.) can identify unusual behaviours and initiate countermeasures autonomously.

  9. Secure Supply Chain Management:

    • These solutions (for example - Veracode and Black Duck Software Composition Analysis) ensure that all components and software used in the drone are sourced from trusted suppliers and are free from malware or backdoors. This involves rigorous testing and validation processes.

  10. Cybersecurity Incident Response:

    • Incident Response Plan: Predefined procedures for responding to cybersecurity incidents, including steps for detection, containment, eradication, and recovery. Some standard IRPs are TheHive and the SANS Incident Handler’s Handbook.
    • Forensic Analysis: Tools (e.g. EnCase, FTK (Forensic Toolkit), Autopsy) and processes for investigating cyber incidents to understand the attack vector and implement preventive measures.

These cybersecurity technologies help to mitigate risks such as unauthorized access, data breaches, and control takeover, to ensure the operational security and integrity of defence drones.

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