SIGINT for Anyone: The Growing Availability of Signals Intelligence in the Public Domain

Abstract

This was an exploratory effort, rather than a comprehensive research endeavor. We relied on unclassified and publicly available materials to find examples of capabilities that challenge the government-only paradigm. We identified ways these capabilities and trends may impact the U.S. government in terms of emerging threats, policy implications, technology repercussions, human capital considerations, and financial effects. Finally, we identified areas for future study for U.S. and allied government leaders to respond to these changes.During our market scan, we found examples of SIGINT capabilities outside of government that are available to anyone. The capabilities we found have applications in maritime domain awareness; radio frequency (RF) spectrum mapping; eavesdropping, jamming, and hijacking of satellite communications; and cyber surveillance. Most of these capabilities are commercially available, many are free, and some are illegal. In our view, the existence of both legal and illegal markets and capabilities results in an environment where SIGINT has been democratized, or available to anyone.The capabilities we found have implications for the U.S. government and allies. They increase the threat environment by

Law and Policy for the Quantum Age

“…Measurement of the transparency can detect subtle magnetic fields. 17 In 12 Heidari and Nabaei, "SQUID Sensors" (2019). 13 Juzeliunas, Y. P. Ma, and Wikswo, "Remote Sensing of Aluminum Alloy Corrosion by SQUID Magnetometry" (2004).…”

“…16 Tierney et al, "Optically Pumped Magnetometers: From Quantum Origins to Multi-Channel Magnetoencephalography" (2019). 17 EIT is exciting because it can produce what is known as a "slow light" effect, when optical pulses travel through a medium with a low group velocity. This 2.2.…”

“…In areas such as the South China Sea, a magnetometer-based surveillance system might tip off a nation to the presence of another nation's underwater vessels and lead to their exclusion. (9), reactor compartment (10), torpedo room (14), and missile compartment (17) in this Ohio class nuclear submarine provide several highly dense areas -arranged in a distinctive pattern unlikely to occur naturally in the ocean -that quantum sensing devices could detect. Image CC-By Wikimedia Commons user Voytek S.…”

“…16 Not surprisingly, MLC flash costs less than single-level cell (SLC) flash memory, but it is more prone to errors. 17 Digital computers need a way to store information and to read back the information that they have stored. The Jacquard Loom wasn't a computer because it had no way of writing to its punch cards: the same was true of the card sorters and tabulators that Herman Hollerith created for the 1890 US Census.…”

Private Sector Attribution of Cyber Incidents: Benefits and Risks to the U.S. Government

“…Additional evidence that can be brought to bear may include all-source intelligence which can include signals intelligence (SIGINT) intercepted communications, and human intelligence (HUMINT) from well-positioned human sources. In general, advanced SIGINT and HUMINT were historically only available to highly-sophisticated nation-states, however, threat intelligence companies (and other nongovernmental organizations) are now developing their own capabilities that may rival nation-states capabilities (Weinbaum et al, 2017). Open source intelligence (OSINT) based on publicly available information may also help in attribution.…”