Pentagon Told of UAV Hacking Threat in 2004

Senior military officers warned officials five years ago that video from Predator drone aircraft could be intercepted and doctored, but the Defense Department only began securing the signals this year, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

The Journal was the first to report yesterday that Iraqi insurgents had hacked into the system to download video and communications from unmanned aerial vehicles. Today it is reporting that officers warned the Joint Chiefs of Staff that the downloads were vulnerable to intercept by Russia and China, but were not concerned that the feeds could be picked up by insurgents in either Iraq or Afghanistan.

JCS Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen has confirmed that insurgents obtained data from the drones but caused no significant military damage, The Associated Press is reporting today.

Mullen, who is now in Iraq for talks about the planned U.S. withdrawal of forces, told the AP he is very concerned about the issue of hacking and cybersecurity in general.

The Journal reports that two senior Pentagon officers who raised the issue had their their concerns dismissed by more senior members of the JCS, who were more concerned over improvised explosive devices and other threats on the ground.

The Pentagon yesterday confirmed that insurgents in Iraq managed to intercept UAV downloads, but that the feeds have since been secured. DoD officials also said no drones ever were commandeered by insurgents.