Hacking Space Systems: Inside Tempest with Tim Fowler

January 7, 2025

Summary:

In this episode, host Timothy De Block sits down with Tim Fowler, the creator of Tempest, a hands-on educational project focused on space cybersecurity. Tim shares the story behind the development of Tempest, a 1U CubeSat designed for teaching and exploring cybersecurity in space systems. With insights from his background in space cyber, Tim explains how Tempest offers a unique, vulnerable, and modular platform for learning, hacking, and improving space security.

Key Topics Covered:

What is Tempest?
Tim introduces Tempest, a one-unit CubeSat built for educational purposes, focusing on the cybersecurity aspects of space systems. He explains how CubeSats are small satellites with low cost and accessibility but often lack a focus on security.
Design and Development of Tempest
Tim talks about his 18-month journey developing Tempest, a project that started as an educational tool for his class on space cybersecurity. The CubeSat is intentionally vulnerable, offering students a chance to explore hacking and security concepts in space systems.
Tempest as a Teaching Aid
Tempest is designed to be hands-on, giving students real-world exposure to the challenges and opportunities in securing space systems. The first version of Tempest debuted at Wild West HackingFest, and Tim discusses how he plans to scale and release the hardware for public use.
Challenges and Learning Through Failure
Tim shares some humorous and insightful moments from teaching with Tempest, including a broadcast storm in the classroom caused by satellites "talking" to each other. He reflects on the importance of troubleshooting and learning through failure, both as a developer and instructor.
Upcoming Plans for Tempest
Tim outlines his goals for 2025, including releasing Tempest hardware for public consumption and expanding the educational content around space cybersecurity. He also hints at adding AI capabilities to the CubeSat for future applications like missile detection or weather observation.

Guest Bio:

Tim Fowler is a space cybersecurity expert and creator of Tempest, a unique educational tool designed to teach security in space systems. With years of experience in both the defense and cybersecurity sectors, Tim is passionate about making space systems more secure and accessible for hands-on learning.

Links and Resources:

Ethos Labs - Tempest and other space cybersecurity resources
Anti-Cyphon Training - Training courses and workshops by Tim Fowler
Wild West HackingFest - Upcoming workshops featuring Tempest
LinkedIn - Connect with Tim Fowler for more updates

Contact Information:

Leave a comment below or reach out via the contact form on the site, email timothy.deblock[@]exploresec[.]com, or reach out on LinkedIn.

Check out our services page and reach out if you see any services that fit your needs.

Social Media Links:

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ShowMeCon: Unraveling the Cybersecurity Fabric of Space and SCADA Networks with Paul Coggin

April 2, 2024

Summary:

In this captivating episode of the "Exploring Information Security" podcast, cybersecurity expert Paul Coggin discusses the intricate world of threat hunting in SCADA networks and the emerging frontier of space cybersecurity. From the inspiration drawn from Transformers movies to the sophisticated attacks like Stuxnet, Coggin delves deep into how monitoring physical indicators could revolutionize our approach to cybersecurity in both terrestrial and extraterrestrial domains.

This podcast is sponsored by ShowMeCon.

Episode Highlights:

The significance of ShowMeCon in filling the void left by other conferences.
Paul's historical involvement and contribution to the naming of ShowMeCon and DerbyCon.
The Internet of Military Things
Initiating Threat Hunting in New Domains
Case Studies and Practical Applications
Looking Ahead: Cybersecurity in Space

Guest Information:

Paul Coggin is a Cyber SME at nou Systems, Inc.

Contact Information:

Leave a comment below or reach out via the contact form on the site, email [timothy.deblock[@]exploresec[.]com, or reach out on LinkedIn.

Check out our services page and reach out if you see any services that fit your needs.

Social Media Links:

[RSS Feed] [iTunes] [LinkedIn]

How to hack a satellite

January 23, 2024

Summary:

Tim Fowler is an offensive security person at Black Hills Information Security who also happens to be a space nerd thanks to Paul Coggin. I was sitting at the table with Tim at BSides Nashville when Paul planted the seed of satellite hack. Fast forward several hundred hours later and Tim has put together a lot of content on the topic including training for 2024.

He makes a compelling case for why we should care about security in space. Mainly, that it’s the next frontier. After spending over an hour talking to him I completely agree. It’s a path that we’re destined to head and a lot of the big companies are already moving that way. This is also a heavily unexplored space for people looking to get into an emerging field this is it.

Episode Highlights: