Security News > 2022 > July > Germany unveils plan to tackle cyberattacks on satellites

The guide categorizes the protection requirements of various satellite missions from "Normal" to "Very High" with the goal of covering as many missions as possible.

"High" is high-consequence damage that "Can significantly limit the operation of the satellite system." As for "Very High," the attack could result in shutdown and "Reach an existentially threatening, catastrophic extent for the operator or the manufacturer."

Phases of the satellite lifecycle includes design, testing, transport, commissioning operation, and finally decommissioning.

As satellites get smarter, their attack surface area increases.

Just over a decade ago, a pair of US-maintained environmental monitoring satellites experienced "Interference" and while anti-satellite weaponry can do untold damage, cyber warfare has continued to spread. After all, why aim a missile at a satellite if an atacker can bend it to their will?

As for the BSI document, it goes as far as considering what do with satellites past the end of their lifetime.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2022/07/05/bsi_satellite_baseline/