| Whilst GPS is commonly associated with satellite | | | | (ejected hot plumes of plasma and radiation from the |
| navigation and wayfinding, many technologies and | | | | sun), have long been known to be able to damage and |
| computer networks rely on the GPS satellite system | | | | even disable satellites. |
| for a source of accurate time. | | | | GPS is particularly vulnerable because of the high |
| GPS time servers utilise the onboard atomic clocks of | | | | orbits of geostationary satellites (some 22,000 miles |
| the global positing satellites and use this stable and | | | | up) this leaves them unprotected by the earth's |
| accurate time source as a basis for their NTP | | | | magnetic field. |
| synchronisation (Network Time Protocol) | | | | However, following the recent solar activity there has |
| GPS has become the preferred source of atomic | | | | been no reported damage to the GPS system but as |
| clock time for many network operators. There are | | | | so many people rely on satellite navigation and GPS |
| other methods where UTC (Coordinated Universal | | | | time for NTP servers could a future solar storm lead |
| Time) can be used; radio signals and across the | | | | to havoc on Earth? |
| internet to name but two sources, but none is as | | | | Well the short answer is yes; GPS satellites have |
| secure or readily available as GPS. | | | | been in orbit for several decades and while redundant |
| Unlike radio signals, GPS is available everywhere on | | | | satellites were introduced into the system many have |
| the planet, is never down for scheduled maintenance | | | | been used up due to previous failures and it would only |
| and is not commonly vulnerable to interference. It also | | | | take a couple of disabled satellite to cause real |
| doesn't have any security implications like connecting | | | | problems for the network. |
| across an internet firewall to an online time server can. | | | | Fortunately, help is at hand as the Europeans, Russians |
| However, this doesn't mean GPS is completely | | | | and Chinese are all working on their own GPS |
| invulnerable as recent news reports have suggested. | | | | equivalents which should work hand-in-hand with the |
| It has been recently reported that a sunspot (sunspot | | | | American GPS network allowing GPS receivers to |
| 1092) the size of the Earth has flared up and a | | | | pick and choose from all four GNSS networks (Global |
| massive coronal ejection (solar flare), described in the | | | | Navigational Satellite Systems) ensuring that even if a |
| press as a "solar tsunami" which was suggested to be | | | | really violent solar storm hits in the future there will be |
| large enough to satellites and wreck power and | | | | more than enough geo stationary satellites to ensure |
| communications grids. | | | | no loss of signal. |
| Solar activity, such as sunspots and solar flares | | | | |