US Says Plane Finder App Threatens Security

[Flashback]

A phone application that threatens security

The Plane Finder AR application, developed by a British firm for the Apple iPhone and Google's Android, allows users to point their phone at the sky and see the position, height and speed of nearby aircraft. It also shows the airline, flight number, departure point, destination and even the likely course-the features which could be used to target an aircraft with a surface-to-air missile, or to direct another plane on to a collision course, the 'Daily Mail' reported. The program, sold for just 1.79 pounds in the online Apple store, has now been labelled an 'aid to terrorists' by security experts and the US Department of Homeland Security is also examining how to protect airliners. The new application works by intercepting the so-called Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcasts (ADS-B) transmitted by most passenger aircraft to a new satellite tracking system that supplements or, in some countries, replaces radar.

 

[samh004]

I like augmented reality apps, but I wouldn’t pay for that, haha. Screenshots look interesting.

App Shopper: Plane Finder AR (Navigation)

As for the "issue", I think this data is publicly available, indeed in the apps description they say if you have the equipment to see this data and want to share it, contact them. So if any terrorists didn’t know about the app, they do now, and if they wanted it badly enough, it wouldn’t be too hard to build an app themselves (as developers) and use it on their devices, or even jailbreak. Basically, I don’t see the point in kicking up a fuss as any terrorist that wanted this information could easily get it on their own.

 

[markis10]

It is publicly available and by no means complete, many of the BNE flights dont show as they dont broadcast the info required:

http://www.balus.info/Radar.php?img=1

 

[tuppaware]

I bought the app and to be honest its not that correct. Many times no planes appear and often when they do it shows the plane flying underground (unless 9 miles appears under the horizon ??)

 

[harvyk]

Meh, this is nothing that a would be terrorist couldn't get with some knowledge of airline routes \ schedules and the airlines website.

 

[wallacej]

bump...I downloaded the free version today.. pretty cool The full app is $5.99 (story in todays Sydney Herald Summer lift out page 5.

It even shows planes that are sitting at the gate, and flying around.... etc, not bad, and I think most on this forum would probably like it... worth a look.

 

[yohy?!]

Got the Planefinder HD version on my Ipad this weekend - it's brilliant if you are in Sydney, only out by a few seconds to map the plane's location. It gives the flight number, route and even maps the previous course.

Noticed an RAAF flight last night travelling through central NSW on a (chartered?) A340.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Got the Planefinder HD version on my Ipad this weekend - it's brilliant if you are in Sydney, only out by a few seconds to map the plane's location. It gives the flight number, route and even maps the previous course.

Noticed an RAAF flight last night travelling through central NSW on a (chartered?) A340.

Probably the ADF charter to the Middle East. Was it going through DRW to DXB?

 

[yohy?!]

Probably the ADF charter to the Middle East. Was it going through DRW to DXB?

No route listing for it displayed but it was heading in that direction, unfortunately there's no coverage for DRW so I couldn't see if it stopped there.

Rego was OY-KBM, previously listed for HiFly (Portugese LCC I think) guess there's more money in chartering at present:!:

 

[markis10]

No route listing for it displayed but it was heading in that direction, unfortunately there's no coverage for DRW so I couldn't see if it stopped there.

Rego was OY-KBM, previously listed for HiFly (Portugese LCC I think) guess there's more money in chartering at present:!:

Thats the ADF contract aircraft leased from HiFly for Adagold who took it from Strategic.

 

[yohy?!]

Thats the ADF contract aircraft leased from HiFly for Adagold who took it from Strategic.

Inneresting - does it just do SYD-DRW-DXB or other runs too?

 

[markis10]

Inneresting - does it just do SYD-DRW-DXB or other runs too?

Depends on what base is providing the troops, mostly Brisbane and TSV.

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6890770

 

[yohy?!]

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6890770

A rather bland livery that one!