Satellite communications are so deeply woven into everyday life that most people never think about them, yet a single coordinated cyberattack on space-based infrastructure could disrupt internet access, GPS navigation, cell phone service, and emergency communications across an entire nation. Viasat, a major satellite communications provider, is now using artificial intelligence to test whether its systems can withstand interference and adversarial jamming, a move prompted by Russia's 2022 attack on Viasat's KA-SAT network, which knocked out communications across Ukraine and several European countries.

What Makes Satellites Such Vulnerable Targets for Cyberattacks?

Defending satellites presents a fundamentally different challenge than protecting ground-based systems. Once a satellite launches into orbit, it stays there for 20 to 25 years, and patching security vulnerabilities on a system flying thousands of miles away is extraordinarily difficult. This long operational lifespan means satellites launched a decade ago may still be running outdated security code with no practical way to update it.

Historically, large defense contractors built satellites for governments with security as an afterthought. Today, a shift is underway. Newer space companies and technology startups are designing satellites with cybersecurity built in from the beginning, rather than bolted on later. This represents a meaningful change in how the space industry approaches security, though the legacy systems already in orbit remain vulnerable.

How Dependent Are We Really on Space-Based Communications?

Most people rely on satellites without realizing it. Internet connectivity, cell phone service, GPS navigation, and even everyday messaging depend on space-based infrastructure. The vulnerability became starkly apparent on the first day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, when Russian forces conducted a cyberattack targeting Ukrainian satellite communications. The disruption occurred at the most critical moment, when Ukraine needed reliable communications to coordinate its defense.

"You can damage satellite communication and then hurt an entire country," explained Gil Baram, a cybersecurity strategy and policy researcher specializing in cyber warfare and space security at Bar-Ilan University.

Gil Baram, Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor at Bar-Ilan University

The real-world impact extends far beyond military operations. Civilian infrastructure, financial systems, transportation networks, and emergency services all depend on the continuity of satellite communications. A successful attack could cascade through multiple sectors simultaneously.

Why Are States Using Cyber Operations Instead of Traditional Warfare?

Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure represent a new form of competition between nations. States can conduct damaging cyber operations that disrupt civilian life, interfere with elections, and cause significant harm without crossing the threshold into open warfare. This creates a gray zone where nations compete continuously, inflicting real damage while avoiding the escalation that would trigger a military response.

Baram noted that this represents a fundamental shift in how state conflict operates. Traditional military action has clear boundaries, but cyber capabilities allow nations to compete aggressively while maintaining plausible deniability and avoiding the political and military consequences of declared war.

Steps to Understand and Protect Against Space-Based Cyber Threats

• Recognize the Dependency: Understand that satellites power critical services you use daily, from GPS to internet to emergency communications, making space infrastructure a national security priority.
• Support Security-by-Design Principles: Advocate for and support companies and government agencies that build cybersecurity into satellite systems from the beginning, rather than treating it as an afterthought.
• Stay Informed About Vulnerabilities: Follow news about satellite infrastructure attacks and security testing, as these events reveal weaknesses that could affect your access to essential services.
• Prepare for Disruption: Develop contingency plans for scenarios where internet, GPS, or cell service becomes unavailable, similar to how you might prepare for natural disasters.

Viasat's testing with AI-assisted platforms represents an important step toward identifying and addressing vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them. By simulating interference and jamming scenarios, the company can evaluate whether its systems maintain operational effectiveness under attack conditions.

The broader lesson, according to security experts, is that cyber threats and AI-powered attacks are not abstract concerns for technical specialists. They directly affect everyday life for ordinary people. Understanding this connection is the first step toward building more resilient infrastructure and protecting the systems that modern society depends on.