US Warns Space Companies About Foreign Spying

U.S. Officials say Chinese and Russian spy agencies are trying to steal technology from private American space companies and preparing cyberattacks that could disable satellites in a conflict.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) issued a two-page bulletin, saying unspecified foreign entities were using cyberattacks and techniques such as strategic investment through joint ventures and acquisitions to gain access to the U.S. space industry.

We anticipate growing threats to this burgeoning sector of the U.S. economy,” a U.S. Counterintelligence said, adding that “China and Russia are among the leading foreign intelligence threats to the U.S. space industry.”

The move is the latest push by Washington to raise awareness about an issue that has long vexed  Counterintelligence Officials and has become a higher priority as the U.S. space industry spends billions of dollars developing new rockets and other technology.

The document warned companies to be on guard for facility visit requests, and attempts to gather confidential information at conferences.

It also said individual employees were at risk of recruitment efforts through offers of travel abroad or consultancy work and payment for proprietary information.

It urged companies to contact the FBI or AFOSI with any concerns of being targeted, as well as to track “peculiar incidents” and establish “insider threat” programs as part of vetting individuals in sensitive positions.

U.S. authorities have for years said Chinese hackers are targeting U.S. space know-how, including having accessed computers at the NASA Goddard Space Center and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as well as numerous companies involved in aviation, space and satellite technology.

REUTERS