In the paper "Starshields for iOS: Navigating the Security Cosmos in Satellite Communication" Jiska Classen (HPI), Alexander Heinrich, Fabian Portner, Felix Rohrbach, and Matthias Hollick (TU Darmstadt), analyzed Apple's satellite communication systems extensively and discovered multiple security gaps.
In 2022, Apple introduced “Emergency SOS via Satellite”, starting with the iPhone 14, in order to provide connection in emergencies, if there is no mobile phone network available. The technology allows emergency calls, location transmission and, since iOS 18, also short messages via satellite.
The researchers discovered that despite multi-layered encryption and advanced security architecture there are vulnerabilities that can be exploited for unauthorized communication.
The paper was accepted at the A*-ranked conference “Network and Distributed System Security” (NDSS), 24 to 28 February 2025 in San Diego, California.
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