According to details released at the Black Hat digital security conference in Las Vegas July 28 – August 2, 2007, hackers have determined a method to penetrate popular vehicle satellite navigation systems. During the conference, two researchers associated with Inverse Path Ltd. demonstrated how antennas and common off-the-shelf electronics equipment could be utilized to intercept satellite navigation alert information and replace it with false notifications, such as “foggy weather,” “air raid,” or “terrorist attack.”

While navigation systems are primarily used to highlight driving routes and access stored maps, the systems also receive constant satellite updates about traffic accidents, road closures and weather conditions that could impact a particular route of travel and facilitate the need for a revised route. If a hacker feeds false information into the system and sends a fraudulent alert regarding non-existent driving hazards, drivers could be sent off track unnecessarily.