The booming private space industry has recently drawn unheard-of interest and investments. However, it has become a top target for foreign spy services, prompting US government agencies to warn commercial space corporations about these hostile groups' cybersecurity threats.

A two-page advisory detailing the combined warning from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, and the Air Force was released, according to Gizmodo. The statement emphasizes the commercial space sector's susceptibility to foreign intelligence attacks. 

The warning draws attention to the potential for these foreign organizations to attack workers, subcontractors, or suppliers connected to commercial space enterprises, with the goal of stealing sensitive spacecraft operational data. 

Cyberattack Threats on US Space Sector to Grow Further

An unnamed US counterintelligence officer said of the seriousness of the issue, saying that authorities expect "growing threats to this burgeoning sector of the U.S. economy." China and Russia are particularly noteworthy among the top foreign intelligence threats to the US space sector.

The advice results from intense pressure from Washington to protect the commercial space agency's rapidly expanding business. In 2022, Fortune projected 7.9% growth in commercial space sales from $396.2 billion to $427.6 billion, while McKinsey & Company predicted the space industry will grow 41% in the next five years, from $546 billion in 2022 to $1 trillion in 2030. 

The three agencies advise commercial space corporations to contact the FBI and Air Force Office of Special Investigations to secure their investments.

Cyberattacks on space-related institutions increase the urgency of the warning. A cyberattack on the European Space Agency revealed weaknesses in their system. 

In a carefully orchestrated operation, hackers could compromise an ESA OPS-SAT nanosatellite in low-Earth orbit, giving them unrestricted access to the spacecraft's GPS, altitude control, and onboard camera. Phishing emails with fake Microsoft Office attachments infected NASA's Webb Space Telescope. 

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Notably, hacking attempts have also been made against private space corporations. Belgian security experts showed how a SpaceX spacecraft might be taken advantage of by using a special circuit board connected to an earthly satellite dish.

Protecting the US Space Sector from Cyber Threats 'An Urgent' Matter

In April, Acting US National Cyber Director Kemba Walden highlighted the need for improved cybersecurity in the space industry. She said that protecting space equipment from cyber threats is still "urgent and requires high-level attention." 

Walden also emphasized the critical significance of a tight public-private collaboration in ensuring strong cybersecurity for space systems, according to The Register.

The official emphasized the space economy's complexity, including satellites, base stations, and venture capital-fueled space innovation. Emerging startups' innovations could become essential elements of crucial space systems since more significant enterprises often acquire them.

Secure-by-design space technology has become essential to combating these growing dangers. To enhance the robustness of space systems against cyber incursions, the White House is actively addressing this matter.

Security Affairs reported that recent findings from Microsoft Threat Intelligence have revealed insight into the actions of the APT29 cyberespionage organization, which has links to Russia. 

The gang carried out phishing attacks against various international businesses and government entities using Microsoft Teams. APT29 created new domains posing as technical assistance firms using small Microsoft 365 users that had already been hacked. The attackers tried to deceive users into accepting requests for multifactor authentication through Teams messaging to steal passwords. 

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