Link seems to be bnroken, but I knew it would happen sooner or later. This is why I think going to an all-UAV air force is a pie in the sky idea. If insurgents can do it so can Russia or China.

They did it with software from the internet that can be bought for $26.00. Fortunately, at least according to the military, they weren't able to take control or disrupt operation of the drones, but by hacking the video links, were able to see what area were under surveillance, etc.

From what I have read, there were no measures in place... it probably took so long because even the insurgents figured it was too stupid to not be covered. This wasn't hacking as in compromising the security system, it was simply intercepting the video feed broadcasts... more akin to using your neighbors unsecured wireless connection.

I doubt that very much, since it's sent over SIPRNET in the first place. Probably what's meant is the actual video feed itself has no additional measures on top of the security of SIPRNET.

Senior defense and intelligence officials said Iranian-backed insurgents intercepted the video feeds by taking advantage of an unprotected communications link in some of the remotely flown planes' systems. Shiite fighters in Iraq used software programs such as SkyGrabber -- available for as little as $25.95 on the Internet -- to regularly capture drone video feeds, according to a person familiar with reports on the matter.

Senior military and intelligence officials said the U.S. was working to encrypt all of its drone video feeds from Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, but said it wasn't yet clear if the problem had been completely resolved.

From the article..

The real issue is that they were broadcasting this data over an unencrypted satellite uplink. Considering the amount of SIGINT and COMINT business the feds have had their hands in, they damn well ought to know how inexcusably stupid that is.

I'd be asking a lot of questions about why the security encryption wasn't secured so that the signal could not be ungarbled, why we were once again underestimating the enemy, and asking how we can improve the system so this doesn't happen again.

Then I would be asking the programmers to develop how to give them false broadcast feeds to gawk at while the Predator was somewhere else.

Let it be known that they "hijacked" the info with easily available tech (whether that was the case or not) - that you can leverage your own knowledge of said tech in order to gain info about the "hijackers' when they try again?

Start tracking the purchases of said 'low tech' equipment to get an idea about who wants to hack in to the system. Investigate buyers, discreetly, quietly, and put together a strike plan if you hit the jackpot.

Make them kind of trackable, targetable, so they can be fired upon, then have their silent shadow blow up the firing site.

Wouldn't you maybe try to tempt people into trying the same thing, maybe by making it sound easier than it actually was...

Let it be known that they "hijacked" the info with easily available tech (whether that was the case or not)

... so you can figure out where the smart, tech-savvy bad guys are?

...you can leverage your own knowledge of said tech in order to gain info about the "hijackers' when they try again?