Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: Business Standard
Context: Israel reportedly used GPS jamming to confuse Iran’s missile targeting teams ahead of Iran’s direct attack on Israel.
- This technique, similar to what the US allegedly did during India’s Kargil war in 1999, can hinder military operations by degrading GPS signals.
- The US initially employed “selective availability” to degrade GPS accuracy for India during the Kargil war, prompting India to develop its own navigation system called NavIC.
- In the recent incident, Israeli locals found their GPS showing them in Cairo or Beirut, causing confusion about throwing off Iran’s missiles.
About GPS Spoofing:
GPS spoofing, also known as GPS simulation, involves manipulating or tricking a GPS receiver by broadcasting false GPS signals.
This leads the receiver to believe it is located somewhere it is not, resulting in inaccurate location data.
This cyberattack undermines the reliability of GPS data, critical for navigation, time synchronization, and more.
While initially a theoretical threat, GPS spoofing has become a practical concern due to affordable software and hardware capable of transmitting fake signals.
This evolution poses risks and security challenges for industries, governments, and individuals.
