Are your radios secure? Digital two-way radio, eavesdropping and encyption
We have heard from a number of radio users lately who mistakenly think that because they are using digital two-way radio, their transmissions can’t be listened to or eavesdropped, and the conversations are private. There have also been many related discussions on cyber security lately.
In most circumstances,it is just as easy for someone to listen to you in digital, as was in analogue.
It is even possible - and has been proven in practice - to easily "hack into" DMR digital trunked networks and talk to users, as there is no radio authentication required when calls are already in progress. All you need is a DMR capable radio and to know the frequencies and talkgroups, which are easily obtainable with a digital radio scanner or online.
Most digital two-way radio transmissions in NSW are not encrypted in any way, including many transmissions on our largest two digital radio networks, the Government Radio Network (P25 digital) and the Orion Network (MotoTRBO/DMR digital).
Even if you are using an encrypted two-way radio, only part of your transmissions might actually be encrypted. As is supported by Motorola documentation,digital radio encryptiononly encryptspart ofthe transmission: the voice and data payload. Controlmessages are not encrypted, including talkgroup ID, radio ID and status messaging. High-Efficiency Data is also not encrypted, whichusually means that your GPS and location information is not encrypted and is sent "in the clear" for all to see.
Radio networks employing encryptioncan be decrypted through a technique called “traffic analysis,”where a skilled person can crack theencryption, thanks to common repetitive information which is required to be sent over the air as part of the radio protocol. But usually this is not even a consideration, asmost digital transmissions are unencrypted and easily listened to.
In contrast, leading Push-to-talk communications which operate over broadband networks employ multiple forms of encryption. The nature of broadband networks means that all communications and signalling is encapsulated in multiple layers of security.
Related Articles
Is digital two-way radio obsolete?
In 2007, Motorola launched their new MotoTRBO digital two-way radios. At their heart, they use the DMR digital radio open standard, which has become the industry standard for commercial digital two-way radio. Since then, digital radios offer more ...Why bother securing your two-way communications?
Most people don't consider the security of their two-way communications.With cyber attacks on Microsoft and Latitude Financial affecting more than 7.9 million Aussies and Kiwis, and the 2025 attaks on QANTAS exposing details for six million ...Reliable two-way communications for retail and shopping centres
PTT over LTE communication provides cost-effective communications superior to digital radio, as well as the ability to use a single device for two-way communications, indoor tracking, job dispatch, facilities management, emails, messaging, phone ...Mobile radio LMR and DMR GPS tracking, overcoming limitations of radio network capacity
DMR and other digital radio systems allow for transfer of data over radio, including GPS information, indoor tracking, basic job tickets, short data messaging, and basic telemetry. This can be very useful, however the main limitation is that the data ...Indoor radio communications for factories of the future
ISL Recycling Australia came to us in 2016 to improve team communications in their factories. They had tried different radios and other ideas, then another customer of ours, A2B Towing, told them about ourfree trial. Traditional two-way ...