Tag Archive for: space

Providing A Cyber Capability Focus > Space Operations Command (SpOC) > Article Display

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PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. —  The growing importance of cyber operations within the U.S. Space Force is driving a required focus on space systems at the Special Access Program level, explained Mr. David Wilcox, Space Operations Command’s Cyber Warfare Mission Area team chief. “Recognition of this gap lead to the stand-up of a Branch specifically focused on this… and I was chosen as the lead.”

As the Cyber Warfare Branch chief, Wilcox is the subject matter expert supporting SpOC’s cyberspace secure-and-defend operations for USSF missions. “Specifically, I provide subject matter expertise for integration of secure-and-defend capabilities on Special Access Program, and lead efforts for providing cyber-enabled space operations capabilities for combat power projection.”

The importance and criticality of SpOC’s cyberspace secure-and-defend operations has only increased over time. Wilcox explains, “…I know the impact of my job for SpOC and the USSF is critical to allowing our service to become a leader in cyberspace operations in support of space operations.  Our team, just with SpOC, has led USSF efforts to drive Commanders and Senior Leaders to understand the impact cyberspace risks have on total mission risk as we present our capabilities and forces in support of Combatant Commands around the globe.”

Leading a team that delivers such consequential capabilities to the security of the nation provides Wilcox a satisfaction that comes from knowing what he does, day-in day-out, is crucial and far-reaching.

Wilcox’s tenure as a Department of Defense civilian employee started with the now deactivated Air Force Space Command, and after 13 years developed into his current role which came about with senior leaders’ realization of the importance of cyber operations as part of the newly formed USSF.

“I am very satisfied with the work I do in trying to achieve the end state for SpOC and the USSF,” said Wilcox. “With the stand-up of the USSF, I feel honored to be part of something that will last years into the future and ensure and maintain access to space resources and capabilities for our nation and our Allies.”

Wilcox, an integral…

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Ukrainian hackers take out hundreds of Russian space research servers and supercomputers

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The cyber warfare between Russia and Ukraine continues as hackers from the latter launch an attack and destroy the database and infrastructure of Russia’s Far Eastern Research Center of Space Hydrometeorology, “Planeta”.

According to Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, the attack resulted in two petabytes of data and 280 servers being destroyed. Additionally, a digital array valued at US$10 million was also lost in the attack, as well as disabling the research centre’s supercomputers beyond repair through the destruction of software.

“One such computing device together with software costs US$350,000. In the conditions of strict sanctions against Russia, to get such a software again it is impossible,” wrote Ukrainian Defence.

Data included satellite and meteorological data used by the Roscosmos space agency, Russian Defence, emergency situations ministries and other government departments.

Adding salt to the wound, airconditioning, emergency power, and humidification systems were also disabled.

“In total, dozens of strategic companies of the Russian Federation, which work on ‘defense’ and play a key role in supporting Russian occupation troops, will remain without critically important information and services for a long time,” the agency added.

“Glory to Ukraine!”

The attack is the latest in a series between Ukraine and Russia, with the latter recently disabling Ukraine’s largest telco, Kyivstar.

The attack, which occurred in December last year, resulted in service outages the telco originally said were the fault of a technical failure, before confirming a cyber attack.

The attack left Kyivstar’s over 25 million customer base, over half the country’s population, without mobile and home internet services.

A day after the incident, the attack was claimed by Russian hackers from the Solntsepek group, which said they wiped thousands of servers and 10,000 computers.

“We, the Solntsepek hackers, take full responsibility for the cyber attack on Kyivstar. We destroyed 10 thousand computers, more than 4 thousand servers, all cloud storage and backup systems,” said the group on Telegram.

“We attacked Kyivstar because the…

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Google tests a ‘Private Space’ feature on Android phones, allowing secure hiding of apps

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For Android smartphones, Google is actively developing a feature called “Private Space” that will allow users to safely conceal apps. This feature, which is expected in a future Android OS update, allows users to hide files and apps from other users, similar to Samsung’s Secure Folder feature that has been around for six years.

This feature, found in the Security & Privacy settings, enables users to create a protected Android user profile using biometrics or a password/PIN. Mishaal Rahman found this development in the Android 14 QPR2 beta. This feature improves privacy when sharing the device by hiding not just the presence of the app but also its notifications.

To preserve the covert use of the “Private Space” feature, Google is thinking of implementing a search bar trigger to reveal these apps.
The possible inclusion of the feature in Android 15 may indicate that smartphone makers will use it more widely, giving more people access to Samsung’s Secure Folder-like features. Rahman points out that not all features were activated in the most recent beta because it’s still in development.

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US Space Force Major urges Defense Department to adopt Bitcoin as an ‘offset strategy’

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U.S. Space Force Major Jason Lowery has brought a novel perspective on Bitcoin to light, extending its significance far beyond finance and into national defense and cybersecurity.

In a detailed letter to the Defense of Defense’s (DoD) Innovation Board, Lowery argued that Bitcoin and similar proof-of-work (PoW) protocols hold substantial strategic importance, urging the government to delve deeper into their potential applications.

Macrochip

The major’s letter contextualized Bitcoin within the military strategy of an offset approach. The concept historically involves leveraging technological advancements to counterbalance adversaries’ strengths.

Lowery suggested that Bitcoin and its underlying technology could serve as contemporary tools in this regard, potentially redefining the landscape of cyber warfare and defense.

Lowery described Bitcoin as a pioneering “macrochip,” a concept that transforms the global electric power grid into a vast, resource-intensive computer. This innovative approach, he argued, introduces physical costs into the digital domain, offering a new method of securing a wide array of data across the internet.

According to Lowery, this strategy challenges the conventional paradigms of cybersecurity and could mark a significant shift in protecting national interests in the digital age.

Lowery also addressed the ongoing challenges in cybersecurity, highlighting the inadequacies of existing software-based solutions. He proposed that the proof-of-work protocol, as exemplified by Bitcoin, represents a significant innovation in this field.

By introducing the notion of real-world physical costs as deterrents in cyberspace, this approach could revolutionize the way digital security is enforced.

Recommendations to DoD

The letter further explored the implications of this technology for cyber warfare and defense strategies. Lowery emphasized the need for the United States to recognize and quickly adapt to Bitcoin’s potential as a strategic offset in cybersecurity.

He warned that failure to do so could impact the global balance of power, especially in an era where digital and interconnected systems are increasingly vulnerable to security breaches.

In his role as the U.S….

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