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Cracking the Secret Codes of Europe's Galileo Satellite [means consumers could use it for free]
Newswise ^
| July 7, 2006
Posted on 07/09/2006 6:49:32 AM PDT by John Jorsett
click here to read article
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To: John Jorsett
LIBERAL: "Oh no, we just gave France another reason to hate us" NEW YORK TIMES: "Women and minorities hurt worst."
HOWARD DEAN: "It's Bush's fault. He didn't have a plan for this."
MSN: "Bush poll on satellite reaches all time low."
2
posted on
07/09/2006 6:56:28 AM PDT
by
Doctor Raoul
(New York Times? Get a rope!)
To: John Jorsett
Afraid that cracking the code might have been copyright infringement, Psiaki's group consulted with Cornell's university counsel. "We were told that cracking the encryption of creative content, like music or a movie, is illegal, but the encryption used by a navigation signal is fair game," said Psiaki. The upshot: The Europeans cannot copyright basic data about the physical world, even if the data are coming from a satellite that they built.
You would have thought that the European companies that intended to make a profit off this service would have realized this little tidbit of legal information...
...but I'm sure if they make a few healthy donations to congress, the law will quickly be changed to protect their signals.
3
posted on
07/09/2006 7:05:33 AM PDT
by
apillar
To: John Jorsett
4
posted on
07/09/2006 7:08:16 AM PDT
by
mtbopfuyn
(I think the border is kind of an artificial barrier - San Antonio councilwoman Patti Radle)
To: John Jorsett
All your GPS are belong to us.
5
posted on
07/09/2006 7:10:37 AM PDT
by
6SJ7
To: apillar
Since when has legality bothered the Euro Socialists?
6
posted on
07/09/2006 7:10:38 AM PDT
by
em2vn
To: em2vn
Our Geeks spank Euroweeny Geeks! Hee!Hee!
7
posted on
07/09/2006 7:17:18 AM PDT
by
McBuff
To: John Jorsett
The GPS system here in the U.S. originally required a terrestrial reference to correctly "decrypt" the signals to derive highly-accurate position information. The satellites transmitted incorrect data and the terrestrial signal transmitted data to correct it. The reason was national security, I suppose to try to prevent automatic navigation of devices designed to detonate when within 3 meters of a target.
The terrestrial reference was local and had to be licensed, installed, and maintained by a local entity (business or government) willing to foot the bills for all that stuff. The terrestrial station received decryption data from a second source, via landline I think (another recurring cost). Finally, the GPS receiver had to be able to receive the terrestrial signal as well as the satellite signal. If the terrestrial transmitter was in a poor location, you might not be able to use the GPS system throughout a given area.
With all the complications, I suppose the DoD decided that the benefits to local governments and others outweighed security risks and the requirement for "decryption" was dropped. The satellites now send true data that needs no correction for accuracy.
It may be that the article got its facts wrong (imagine that!) and what the Europeans want to do is for security purposes. Europe is a far more dangerous place vis-a-vis Islamism.
8
posted on
07/09/2006 7:38:24 AM PDT
by
TheGeezer
(I.will.never.vote.for.John.McCain.)
To: John Jorsett
This code was broken in 'a couple of weeks'... omg.. you have got to be kidding. If ALL they used was a 128 bit AES code, it'd be nearly impossible to break. Bump that to 512 bit, and it's over. Their choices now are either write off the satellites already in orbit, or have the rest of the network compromised. Not to mention, if they didn't anticipate the need for a code change, they really need to stop hiring cheap tech labor.
I am VERY surprised they didn't encode the signal better.
I am NOT surprised they are trying to pull a fast one.
9
posted on
07/09/2006 7:49:25 AM PDT
by
sten
To: TheGeezer
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the free American GPS system should work in Europe.. and for that matter, everywhere on the globe. As far as I know, all I need is 3 signals at once to accurately determine my position.
So how does that impact security issues in Europe? Can't the euro-terrorists just use a standard American GPS device to determine position?
10
posted on
07/09/2006 7:53:57 AM PDT
by
sten
To: John Jorsett
GPS isn't totally free. The C-code or coarse code is free. The P-code or precision code and Y-Code (anti-spoofing) is classified SECRET and you need JPO (joint program office) authorization for access.
The classified GPS keys are changed annually. Still, I'm surprised the folks at Cornell had so little problem breaking Galileo's PRN code. They seem to expended only a fairly trivial amount of effort. If they did it this easily, I'll wager that NSA and NKVD had it within hours, if not minutes of its coming on the air. I suspect they'll beef it up next time around.
11
posted on
07/09/2006 7:59:39 AM PDT
by
Lonesome in Massachussets
(NYT Headline: 'Protocols of the Learned Elders of CBS: Fake But Accurate, Experts Say.')
To: sten
Correct me if I'm wrongYou're, wrong, you need four satellites to determine three position coordinates and one time coordinate.
You are correct, GPS works just fine in most of Europe. (Not so good at extreme northern latitudes.)
12
posted on
07/09/2006 8:04:06 AM PDT
by
Lonesome in Massachussets
(NYT Headline: 'Protocols of the Learned Elders of CBS: Fake But Accurate, Experts Say.')
To: sten
I suppose it helps when you know exactly what the message says when you're trying to crack a code.
13
posted on
07/09/2006 8:16:02 AM PDT
by
null and void
(Charlie Mackenzie on haggis: I think most Scottish cuisine is based on a dare.)
To: sten
So how does that impact security issues in Europe? Can't the euro-terrorists just use a standard American GPS device to determine position? You'd think so. Good point.
I didn't even think about using "our" GPS in Europe. If that's true, why would anyone in their right minds go to the expense and trouble of building a European GPS, unless it provides some features not available from the existing one?
Anyone here know more about it?
14
posted on
07/09/2006 8:17:24 AM PDT
by
TheGeezer
(I.will.never.vote.for.John.McCain.)
To: TheGeezer
For the money, of course. Hardware royalties, with a license (yearly?) fee, etc.
To: TheGeezer
also to reduce their reliance on non-European technology. After all, if the US controlled the only active and viable GPS system, it gives us a major tactical advantage...
Europe wants to get back on top. The egos over there are just too massive to do otherwise. They are envisioning a world in which the major world powers are the US, China, and Europe...
and the American liberals (euro-trash-wannabees) would like to help them pull the US out of that circle...
16
posted on
07/09/2006 11:04:57 AM PDT
by
sten
To: John Jorsett
Afraid that cracking the code might have been copyright infringement, Psiaki's group consulted with Cornell's university counsel. "We were told that cracking the encryption of creative content, like music or a movie, is illegal, but the encryption used by a navigation signal is fair game," said Psiaki. The upshot: The Europeans cannot copyright basic data about the physical world, even if the data are coming from a satellite that they built. That lawyer's statement overturns perfectly the whole of the Founder's intent regarding the Constitution patent and copyright clause. What is allowed to be protected by grant of the sovereign is works of "science and the useful arts". The "Useful Arts" means technology, and NOT the artistic arts such as music, plays, paintings etc.
The Founder's especially wanted to protect MAPS, navigational aids, and so on -- so vital were they to our nations growth, economy and welfare at the time.
17
posted on
07/09/2006 11:18:41 AM PDT
by
bvw
To: TheGeezer
I didn't even think about using "our" GPS in Europe. If that's true, why would anyone in their right minds go to the expense and trouble of building a European GPS, unless it provides some features not available from the existing one?The Euros aren't comfortable with the US controlling the only source of accurate position data (the Russions created Glonass, but it's suffering from deferred maintenance and it'd be risky to count on it being there in the future). If I recall correctly, Galileo also has a stronger signal, so it can be used inside some buildings. The new US GPS satellites will supposedly allow this as well.
18
posted on
07/09/2006 11:22:13 AM PDT
by
John Jorsett
(scam never sleeps)
To: John Jorsett
The Indians are helping to fund GLONASS and a new constellation is going up.
19
posted on
07/09/2006 11:49:38 AM PDT
by
GAB-1955
(being dragged, kicking and screaming, into the Kingdom of Heaven....)
To: TheGeezer
>>Anyone here know more about it?
My understanding is that they were concerned that we could change things during a war (Like turn all the satellites off, encrypt, send incorrect data that kind of stuff) so their military and civilian devices that depend on it would become useless. (Imagine shooting a missile at us and we just tweak the GPS for 10 min and your missiles fly into the water thinking its at the target, how embarrassing) They dont want the USA to own GPS any more than they want us to own the Internet, but here we are.
20
posted on
07/09/2006 12:54:08 PM PDT
by
DelphiUser
("You can lead a man to knowledge, but you can't make him think")
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