Can Drones Be Hacked?

Drones are a relatively recent technology that was recently introduced to the public, but one which has seen a significant rise in sales over the past few years.

Most drone owners don’t believe that their devices can be hacked. What they don’t know is that drones are interconnected gadgets, and they are hot targets for cybercriminals.

Both commercial and consumer drones have a myriad of vulnerabilities, which raises serious safety concerns.

In a recent study, researchers from the Johns Hopkins University discovered a number to take control of small flying objects. Their findings raised many security questions, especially in the wake of increased sales.

Whether you operate a commercial drone that sprays crops or delivers packages, or you fly one for fun or for aerial photography, you need to remember that there is always a third party waiting for a chance to steal your data.

Why are drones so vulnerable?

As mentioned earlier, consumer demand for these flying objects has increased. In fact, the Federal Aviation Administration projected that drone companies sold drones worth $2.5 million in the U.S alone. It is expected that the figures might grow to $7 million in 2020.

Experts say that the demand for drones is the main reason why these devices are highly vulnerable to cyberattacks. Look – since drone manufacturing companies want to meet the growing needs of their prospects, they build the gadgets in a rush. This leaves voids in the technology’s security, therefore providing a clear path for hackers to wreak havoc.

Drones are hazardous when hacked

Hackers are highly skilled tech experts and will allow device shrewd and crooked methods to bypass even the most secure systems. Therefore, even the most sophisticated drone flight controls, video, imagery, data, base stations, and sensors are highly vulnerable to unexpected attacks.

With these weaknesses, drones pose a huge threat to data security and privacy.

Hackers can hack drones for various reasons. There are some who will do it to prove their capabilities, or steal data for malicious intent. Nonetheless, there are those who might hack these aerial vehicles and crash them on buildings, vehicles, and people. This could result in massive damage. If military drones are hacked, they could be used to harm soft targets; thus leading to injuries and fatalities.

Apart from stealing data and harming people and property, criminal groups could hack drones to gather intelligence before carrying out a robbery. In the possible worst scenario, drones could be hacked by terrorists and used to carry out attacks.

The bottom line is, hacked drones are dangerous. Therefore, people should ensure that as they invest in drones, they also find innovative ways to secure them. If they don’t, then they could have their privacy breached, identity stolen, or their gadgets could be used for criminal and terrorist activities.

How drones can be secured

To minimize the possibility of hacking, most drone manufacturers have devised a number of security measures. They have incorporated robust drone flight and data management systems, which ensure all the functions of the device are controlled in an encrypted interface.

Even with such measures, hundreds of reports about drone hacking are reported quite often. Also, there are websites in the United States, Russia, and the European Union, which list drone models that are highly vulnerable to hacking.

How to secure a drone yourself

Even if drone manufacturers are doing whatever they can to ensure the gadgets they sell are highly secure, you have a responsibility as a drone owner to enhance your safety.

Therefore, investing in a good virtual private network such as NordVPN is something that should be at the helm of your list. Such tools ensure encrypted connection to your smart devices via the internet, thus making it impossible for malicious entities to grasp your data or take control of the device.

Apart from a VPN, there are a host of other ways you can implement to secure your drone. They include:

Make sure the drone’s firmware is up-to-date

Use a strong password for the base station app

Set a limit for the number of devices that are allowed to connect to your device. It is recommended that you set the limit to one.

Find secure remote storage which contains full encryption and two-factor authentication

Ensure that the laptop or mobile device connected to the drone is malware-free, and has a strong anti-virus.

Without the proper security measures in your system, hackers can easily steal your drone’s login credentials and extract data. Also, you can lose control of your device, which can further land you into trouble with the law, if it is used for criminal activity.

Constantly do thorough research and find innovative ways in which you can further secure your drone. You can also learn some basic ethical hacking skills or join an online cybersecurity program, which will help you become a cybersecurity expert. In the process, you might also learn a few drone countermeasures, which is a great career in the tech world we are in today.