Recent headlines have claimed that because the FAA Next Gen air control system uses unencrypted GPS signals, the system can be attacked, with false signals sent to planes in midair. These claims were made by a self-styled “cyber hacker” on CNBC on Monday June 3. CNBC had contacted the FAA but a spokesman told them the agency has an ongoing risk process in place and that any such identified risks were “security sensitive”. See the CNBC  report online at http://www.cnbc.com/id/100784103 CNBC interviewed an expert on navigation systems, Prof. Todd Humphreys of UT, who told CNBC: “It ought to be obvious to the FAA. This is an obvious problem. This is something that’s using antiquated technology from the 1980s.” Continue reading →