At an altitude of 36,000 km above Earth, many geostationary satellites are silently transmitting unencrypted calls, messages, military data and infrastructure information.
With just an $800 antenna, anyone can intercept and collect this sensitive data, according to new findings from researchers at the University of California (San Diego) and the University of Maryland in the US. In less than nine hours, the research team collected thousands of calls and text messages from T-Mobile users, along with data from military and utility systems.
Shocking findings announced at a technology conference in Taiwan (China) in October 2025 show a serious security flaw that threatens everyone – from people in remote areas to frontline military forces.
The global satellite network is connecting everything and revealing a lot too. (Source: Getty Images)
The extent of the data leaked via satellite is alarming. T-Mobile customers’ calls and texts were intercepted for hours, exposing personal conversations. Passengers using in-flight Wi-Fi had their browsing habits and login credentials exposed.
Data from power companies and oil rigs is also transmitted over unencrypted channels, potentially exposing it to sabotage. More worryingly, military communications between the US and Mexico expose the locations of personnel and equipment. The problem is not limited to one sector. Telecommunications, aviation, energy, and defense all rely on satellites to transmit critical data—and are often assumed to be untapped.
Satellite eavesdropping is passive, leaving no trace or firewall warning. A researcher in San Diego collected data using only a rooftop antenna and generic equipment.
If academia can do it, imagine what intelligence agencies with better resources could do. The study only looked at 15% of global satellite data, suggesting the scale of the problem could be much larger than we know.
A geostationary satellite is transmitting a signal. (Source: Getty Images)
When alerted, companies’ responses varied. T-Mobile quickly encrypted its satellite traffic, proving that it was possible if security was a priority. But not everyone took action. Infrastructure operators often struggled with aging equipment and limited budgets. Upgrading to encryption can cost millions of dollars, and some providers charge extra for security features as “premium services.”
This discrepancy illustrates a larger problem: Security is often viewed as a cost, not a default. Until encryption is mandated, many critical systems will remain vulnerable, threatening public safety.
Source: https://vtcnews.vn/tin-hieu-ve-tinh-khong-duoc-ma-hoa-du-lieu-dan-su-quan-su-de-dang-bi-nghe-len-ar971902.html
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