Search

NASA JPL Hacker Used a $35 Raspberry Pi to Steal Data

The April 2018 attack went undetected for nearly a year, according to an audit report issued on June 18.

Advertisement
Highlights
  • The April 2018 attack went undetected for nearly a year
  • A Raspberry Pi is a credit-card sized device
  • It is used mainly to teach coding to children and promote computing
NASA JPL Hacker Used a $35 Raspberry Pi to Steal Data

Photo Credit: Facebook/ NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

A hacker used a tiny Raspberry Pi computer to infiltrate NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory network, stealing sensitive data and forcing the temporary disconnection of space-flight systems, the agency has revealed.

The April 2018 attack went undetected for nearly a year, according to an audit report issued on June 18, and an investigation is still underway to find the culprit.

A Raspberry Pi is a credit-card sized device sold for about $35 (roughly Rs. 2,400) that plugs into home televisions and is used mainly to teach coding to children and promote computing in developing countries.

Prior to detection, the attacker was able to exfiltrate 23 files amounting to approximately 500 megabytes of data, the report from NASA's Office of inspector General said.

These included two restricted files from the Mars Science Laboratory mission, which handles the Curiosity Rover, and information relating to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations which restrict the export of US defence and military technologies.

"More importantly, the attacker successfully accessed two of the three primary JPL networks," the report said.

"Officials were concerned the cyber-attackers could move laterally from the gateway into their mission systems, potentially gaining access and initiating malicious signals to human space flight missions that use those systems."

NASA came to question the integrity of its Deep Space Network data "and temporarily disconnected several space flight-related systems from the JPL network."

The breach came about as a result of a system administrator failing to update the database that determines which devices have access to the network. As a result, new devices could be added without proper vetting.

In response to the attack, the JPL "installed additional monitoring agents on its firewalls" and was reviewing network access agreements with its external partners, the report said.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Further reading: NASA, Raspberry Pi, JPL
 
Show Full Article
Please wait...
Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. OnePlus Pad Lite With 11-Inch Display, 9,340mAh Battery Launched
  2. Realme 15 Pro 5G to Launch in India With Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 Chipset
  3. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 With 8-Inch Inner Display Launched in India
  4. Moto G96 5G Launched in India With 50-Megapixel Sony Lytia 700C Camera
  5. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025 Highlights: Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7 Unveiled
  6. Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, Watch 8 Classic With Exynos W1000 Chip Launched
  7. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 Launched in India With 4.1-Inch Cover Screen
  8. Google Pixel Phones Receiving Monthly Software Update for July 2025
  9. Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Now Available in a New Colour Variant
  10. Nothing Phone 3 Review: Enters the Big League With a Big Price
  1. Progress 92 Spacecraft Docks at ISS with Vital Supplies for Expedition 73
  2. Scientists Trace Universe’s Missing Ordinary Matter Using FRBs and X-rays
  3. Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Now Available in a New Colour Variant in India
  4. Lava Blaze AMOLED 2, Blaze Dragon to Launch in India This Month
  5. Samsung Unpacked 2025: Galaxy Watch 8, Watch 8 Classic With One UI 8.0 Watch, Exynos W1000 Chip Launched
  6. Samsung Unpacked 2025: Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE With 3.4-inch Cover Display, Exynos 2400 SoC Launched
  7. Samsung Unpacked 2025: Galaxy Z Flip 7 Launched in India With 4.1-Inch Cover Screen, Exynos 2500 SoC
  8. Samsung Unpacked 2025: Galaxy Z Fold 7 With Snapdragon 8 Elite Chipset, 8-Inch Inner Display Launched in India
  9. Apple Pencil With 'Trackball' Tip, Ability to Draw on Any Surface Described in Patent Document
  10. Amazon Prime Day 2025 Sale: Top Laptop Deals Are Here
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
App Store App Store
Available in Hindi
App Store
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2025. All rights reserved.
Trending Products »
Latest Tech News »