Security News > 2023 > October > AI algorithm detects MitM attacks on unmanned military vehicles

Professors at the University of South Australia and Charles Sturt University have developed an algorithm to detect and intercept man-in-the-middle attacks on unmanned military robots.

MitM attacks are a type of cyberattack where the data traffic between two parties, in this case, the robot and its legitimate controllers, is intercepted either to eavesdrop or to inject false data in the stream.

Such malicious attacks aim to interrupt the operation of unmanned vehicles, modify the transmitted instructions, and, in some cases, even assume control, instructing the robots to take dangerous actions.

Detecting MitM targeting crewless vehicles and robots is complex as these systems operate under fault-tolerant modes, so distinguishing between normal operations and fault conditions can be hazy.

Robotic systems can be compromised at various levels, from the core system to its sub-systems and their sub-components, causing an operational problem that could render the robot dysfunctional.

Optimized versions of this novel protection system could find applications in similar but more demanding robotic applications, like unmanned aircraft.

News URL

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/ai-algorithm-detects-mitm-attacks-on-unmanned-military-vehicles/