Technology

Hackers Could Launch Their Own Satellites to Create an ‘Uncensorable Internet’

German Hacker Group Looking Into Launch Its Own Satellites to Prevent Internet CensorshipThe German hacker group Chaos Computer Club recently held a conference in Berlin — the Chaos Communication Congress – where they proposed launching their own satellites into space as way to ensure freedom of the Internet. As a longer term goal, they also seek to put the first hacker on the moon.

BBC reports Hackerspace Global Grid (HGG) was proposed partially in response to the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) being discussed in the United States. The proposed SOPA would protect against copyright infringement and is supported by those in Hollywood and in the music industry, but others like Google, Facebook, Twitter and Wikipedia think the legislation could lead to Internet censorship. It has even been considered by these big names and many others, if SOPA passes, to go dark as a “nuclear option” to get their point across.

BBC has more on Hackerspace:

“The first goal is an uncensorable internet in space. Let’s take the internet out of the control of terrestrial entities,” [Nick] Farr said.

[...]

In the open-source spirit of Hackerspace, [Armin] Bauer and some friends came up with the idea of a distributed network of low-cost ground stations that can be bought or built by individuals.

Used together in a global network, these stations would be able to pinpoint satellites at any given time, while also making it easier and more reliable for fast-moving satellites to send data back to earth.

“It’s kind of a reverse GPS,” Mr. Bauer said.

“GPS uses satellites to calculate where we are, and this tells us where the satellites are. We would use GPS co-ordinates but also improve on them by using fixed sites in precisely-known locations.”

Mr Bauer said the team would have three prototype ground stations in place in the first half of 2012, and hoped to give away some working models at the next Chaos Communication Congress in a year’s time.

BBC reports experts as saying the Hackerspace initiative could work in theory but the feasibility of it being successful would be difficult with technical aspects and financing. Prof. Alan Woodward with the University of Surrey is reported as saying that the communication periods available for satellites launched by amateurs are usually brief, among other issues.

According to BBC, Farr said that the group wants to send a person into space because they consider it “offensive” that available technology hasn’t been used to send someone farther than low orbit since 1972.

[H/T PC World]

Comments (64)

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  • Dougral Supports Israel
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 1:23pm

    Its not a realistic idea. Government could easily claim the right to regulate communication to the satellites like it regulates other communication. If the hacker group charges money to support the service that would open up regulation as well. They make a good point but there won’t ever be any unregulated hacker-net.

    Report Post »  
    • Twobyfour
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 2:10pm

      If they support it through “donations” that may by-pass the regulation attempts. Depends on the laws per country, of course.

      There may be other ways to secure funding (I don’t mean via drug trafficking), though it may be tempting for governments to invoke “money laundering” charges.

      Report Post » Twobyfour  
  • mrsalvage2
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 1:10pm

    Interesting…

    Hollywood and the Music industry are the greater advocates of crippling the NET.

    Before the NET the People were locked in a trance from watching Movies and listening to Music and had no originial thoughts.

    Maybe these people are not Hackers, but like the Matrix, they are the Freedom Fighters, seeking to allow those who want to be free in their minds to be so.

    Report Post » mrsalvage2  
  • MangoT21
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 12:51pm

    I’m sure that for 20 grand any government could easily censor a satellite…right into tiny little pieces.

    Report Post » MangoT21  
  • US-First
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 12:37pm

    Instead of focusing on berating this hacker group, perhaps you should be focusing on the common thread you have with them. That is I hope none of us want this Stop Online Piracy Act to become yet another government program in this country. The DoD has its own internet and the interest of national security are served on that. The only service SOPA is doing is for the record and movie companies. Let these companies figure out how to secure their content on their own and not involve tax payer dollars and the US government. Its a joke! These companies want to put their products on the internet quickly before they have a means of protecting the content so they can make money NOW. Then they cry foul because they are not prepared to protect their intellectual property and want your taxes to do it for them! Stop this BS now!

    Report Post »  
    • spasm
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 12:42pm

      Well said.

      Report Post »  
    • PossumRoadkill
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 10:36pm

      Best comment I’ve seen on here in weeks ! I agree completely ! Stop these illegal acts of Congress !

      Report Post » PossumRoadkill  
  • Shotgun_Melee
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 12:35pm

    Anybody else agree that the main story here is small potatoes compared to that little nugget at the end of paragraph 2? If all those websites go dark, we could indeed have angry mobs flooding Congress. As if 2012 didn’t look bleak enough before…

    Report Post » Shotgun_Melee  
  • DrFrost
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 12:31pm

    Any country that desired to could shut down a satellite (some more permanently than others). Not even remotely challenging.

    Report Post »  
  • Nemo13
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 12:26pm

    Regardless of this, the internet should remain free. The final wild wild west. If you have issues with security/etc, than simply disconnect from it. Perhaps there should be a second internet, the government and companies could access that for their needs. But would they stay there? No, because they want to control everyone else.

    Report Post »  
  • ozchambers
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 12:17pm

    First hacker on the moon? Why? So he can’t be arrested? We put the first man on the moon, what makes them think we wouldn’t be the first to put THE MAN on the moon?

    Report Post » ozchambers  
    • ozchambers
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 12:26pm

      All kidding aside, I dont care for hackers in general as they are mostly egotistical self righteous thieves, BUT I love the idea of an internet that cannot be controlled by any state power.

      Report Post » ozchambers  
    • Twobyfour
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 2:13pm

      You’re confusing hackers (white hats) with crackers (black hats). A common mistake.

      Yes, granted, there are gray hats. Still, the distinction ought to be made.

      Report Post » Twobyfour  
    • jcannon98188
      Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:00am

      It was hackers who pushed computing into the modern age, allowing you to type your ignorant comment in the first place. Learn what a hacker is please, and then come back

      Report Post »  
  • microace
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 12:07pm

    Wouldn‘t they have to leave their mother’s basement…and get a job first…I thought it cost like a million dollars to launch a satellite.

    Report Post »  
  • Jim in Houston
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 12:05pm

    Where would these pukes get the money for a satellite? It would mean they had to stop their intrusion into other people’s lives and get a job. I don’t think that will happen.

    Report Post »  
  • ares338
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 11:49am

    All right…we could have non stop episodes of “The Turtleman”.

    Report Post » ares338  
  • commonsenseguy
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 11:48am

    well then they would have to steal millions and millions of dollars to even get one started much less launched, then the government or governments,apple,microsoft,and a lot of other computer companies peeved off that they would have the government stop it before they could build it or they would have it destroyed,what a bunch of really out of their minds idiots to think they could pull this off,they would be better off staying in their parents basements and playing world of war craft or some other video game.

    Report Post »  
    • ProbIemSoIver
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 11:59am

      Steal ??? lol. The People will prevail.
      Let this story be another thorn in the side of the Global Elite and their “Novus Ordo Seclorum”.
      That means, for all of you too ignorant to understand; NEW ORDER UNDER NO RELIGION.
      It is right on the Back of the ONE DOLLAR PRIVATE BANK NOTE that we all use.
      Nothing to see here…. move along.

      Report Post » ProbIemSoIver  
    • prmermen
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 12:11pm

      first off .do you know the buissnes enouhg to know the cost..? second to try to supress the innovated mind is a communist view..now i know ur not..but stop and think what u sound like..if they can do something to support freedom ..then do it

      Report Post » prmermen  
    • Dougral Supports Israel
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 1:17pm

      Sorry ProbIemSoIver, “Novus Ordo Seclorum” means “new order of the ages” not “new order under no religion”. Look it up.

      Report Post »  
    • ProbIemSoIver
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 2:05pm

      Sorry, BUT YOU ARE WRONG !!!
      I went to Merriam Webster. They are global elite owned just like Brittanica, Websters, Wiki, Merriam, etc.

      Break it down. I used merriam webster against themselves.

      NOVUS = NEW
      ORDO = ORDER
      SELCLORUM = SECULAR : Meaning without religion or One religion
      ( you will have to go to other sources for SECLORUM, since most of these sites want to misdirect it’s inquirers.)

      Wiki and Merriam are MSM garbage.
      Isn‘t it interesting that when I type in ’Seclorum’ at Merriam They automatically give me:

      Novus Ordo Seclorum = ‘A New cycle of the ages’ … NOT ‘a new order of the ages’

      Both are wrong. Use your own logic, and quit being a sheeple.

      Report Post » ProbIemSoIver  
    • ProbIemSoIver
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 2:20pm

      Even these global elite-owned Main Stream reference sources admit:

      Novus = New
      Ordo = Order
      Now, you find me a reference that suggests ‘SECLORUM’ means “AGES” and maybe I will continue to debate you on this.

      Merriam screwed their own credibility by stating that ORDO meant “cycle”

      because ORDO used by itself meant:

      or·do noun \ˈȯr-(ˌ)dō\

      Definition of ORDO: 1) a list of offices and feasts of the Roman Catholic Church for each day of the year.

      Origin of ORDO : Medieval Latin, from Latin : 2) ORDER

      So they are also disacknowledging the Original meaning, by stating the definition is one thing but it originally meant something else.

      Also, SECLORUM means SECULAR.

      Look it up.

      Report Post » ProbIemSoIver  
    • Dougral Supports Israel
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 4:38pm

      I stand by my definition. Here is a scholarly reference for you.

      http://www.classics.umd.edu/Faculty/GStaley/NovusOrdo/AmericanDream_files/AmericanDream.htm

      Read the second paragraph, it ends in: which is why an adapted version of these Vergilian words now appears on the Great Seal of America: Novus Ordo Seclorum , “A new order of the ages.”

      Sorry, “Novus Ordo Seclorum” is not an atheist slogan on our money. The great preponderance of the sites I saw agreed with “my” definition. I only saw your version on a couple of atheist oriented sites.

      Report Post »  
  • sWampy
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 11:36am

    This would really piss off Micro$oft and $ony, they would make sure these blew up on the ground, well before launch.

    Report Post »  
  • MeteoricLimbo
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 11:32am

    China might freak over that one…

    Report Post » MeteoricLimbo  
  • BetsyRoss1513
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 11:31am

    spam and flagges as such.

    Report Post » BetsyRoss1513  
  • qzak491
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 11:29am

    If these people don‘t want their stuff stolen don’t put it out were it can be stolen. These people are making a mint off this stuff or they wouldn’t be doing it. When it gets to the point where they aren’t they will stop. Why do we need laws to protect business at the expense of our liberties. If these greedy companies are loosing money they will find another way to peddle their junk or stop doing it. I’m tired of bailing out companies for doing stupid things. If they want to act stupid let them pay for it.
    SOPA is just another scheme to help companies at our expense.

    Report Post »  
    • drattastic
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 11:40am

      Stop SOPA, make sure you congressman and senator know you oppose it !

      Report Post » drattastic  
  • Diego Roswell
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 11:21am

    Well, its all good. The space above our planet is not owned by anyone so why not? However, if anyone uses that space to harm the USA or its allies, the US Navy has satellite destroyers that can quickly end this silliness.

    Report Post » Diego Roswell  
  • BlackCrow
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 11:16am

    Smoking pot makes people stupid.

    Report Post » BlackCrow  
  • Evil_Conservative
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 11:13am

    If there is enough demand for unsensored content this will happen. Capitalism and freedom are awesome.

    Report Post » Evil_Conservative  
  • JLGunner
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 11:11am

    Maybe they could add some better television shows as well. I’m sick of reality tv.

    Report Post » JLGunner  
    • TXPilot
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 11:14am

      Hackers want to launch a satellite?…..Well, first of all, they would have to take a shower, get a job and move out of Mom’s basement, before starting to build their own space program.

      Report Post » TXPilot  
    • ReddenBlack
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 11:25am

      @TXPILOT

      That’s interesting. Since these people are located in Germany, that must mean your a German too. Since I’m sure you would only talk about something you ACTUALLY KNOW as opposed just pulling crap ROYA.

      Oh wait, that’s right. Your one of those morons who don’t understantd that “people in their moms basement” invented the very thing your using to post your ignorant comments.

      Oh wait, your a conservative, you don’t let things like facts or reason enter into a discussion. For you, its best if you just keep making up nonsense.

      Your probably just trash from the army like most of the other posters on the blaze. Get out of my country.

      Report Post » ReddenBlack  
    • JLGunner
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 11:33am

      Well TX, looks like we got ourselves one of them bone-a-fide trolls up in here.

      Report Post » JLGunner  
    • ProbIemSoIver
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 12:44pm

      @JLGUNNER
      Yeppers, Yee haw, looks like you are a Neo-Con Government troll that can’t bring substantive facts to the table, like REDDENBLACK did.
      Just lame-@ss attempts at hillbilly humor.

      Report Post » ProbIemSoIver  
    • TXPilot
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 1:15pm

      @REDDENBLACK……LOL!!…..I really appreciate you taking the time to respond to my post. I know its difficult to stop the spontaneous masturbation for a few minutes to sit down and type up a little bit of your hate. I’m also amazed that you can compose such an incoherent rant with such sticky fingers.

      .As to your less than nice comment about people in the army…….You should be supporting and thanking the people who wear that uniform, because they are a very large part of the reason you have the freedom to sit around flogging your fin all day, while thinking up things to belittle others who have actually accomplished something in life…..unlike you, my seedy little troll…….

      Report Post » TXPilot  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 11:10am

    I wish they would put Obama on Uranus…..

    Report Post »  
  • bhelmet
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 11:07am

    I wonder if it will be “uncensorable” only if you agree with them? I also have a feeling some UN group has jurisdiction over space and will not allow it. There are missiles that can shoot down satellites. IMO, no government should have the authority to shut down the internet – especially since it would MOST likely be used for nefarious purposes.

    Report Post » bhelmet  
    • @leftfighter
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 3:32pm

      Per UN general orders, nobody has control over space.

      That said, if they can say nobody does it means that in actuality, they do.

      Report Post » @leftfighter  
  • Drakkhanlord
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 11:06am

    sounds good to me…

    Report Post » Drakkhanlord  
  • JRook
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 11:06am

    Like many things it is time for the people to start directing corporations, not the other way around. The most powerful vote anyone has is where they choose to spend their dollars. The people can bring down the biggest corporation in a matter of months by a decision to not buy what they are selling.

    Report Post »  
  • @leftfighter
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 11:03am

    Uh- okay. This could be very good or very bad.

    Are these guys like th3j3st3r or Anonymous? One’s a hachtivist for good, the other is more intersted in chaos.

    That’s a pretty big difference.

    Report Post » @leftfighter  
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