Geollect in the news

Intelligence company Geollect tracks wide-scale manipulation over the last three months AIS data is being manipulated to show vessels doing more than 50 knots over land in Iran. UK intelligence company Geollect has identified several incidences of what it says is almost certainly deliberate large-scale spoofing of vessels’ automatic identification systems there. This has occurred […]

The UK’s MoD has advised in its daily intelligence update that commercial vessels’ Automatic Identification System (AIS) data was remotely spoofed to create an image of the Russian pro-war symbol last week. ‘Z’ on the Black Sea, visible on open source tracking software. The Ais is used to track boats also to ensure their safety.

Analysis by Geollect indicates that since 14 May 2023, commercial vessels’ Automatic Identification System (AIS) data has been remotely spoofed to create the impression of a 65km long Russian pro-war Z symbol on the Black Sea, visible on open source tracking software,” the update reads.

A bravado act of Automatic Identification System (AIS) spoofing has been detected in waters off Crimea, with the locations of a number of ships in the east of the Black Sea being temporarily “relocated” some distance to the east, and spelling out the letter “Z”, a pro-Russian war symbol.

With Russia gearing up to defend its captured territories from an expected counter-offensive from Ukrainian forces, a brazen act of Automatic Identification System (AIS) spoofing has been detected in waters off Crimea.

The UK’s Ministry of Defence this morning pointed out a geolocation-spoofing stunt. “Analysis by Geollect indicates that since 14 May 2023, commercial vessels’ Automatic Identification System (AIS) data has been remotely spoofed to create the impression of a 65km long Russian pro-war Z symbol on the Black Sea, visible on open source tracking software. AIS is used to track vessels, including to ensure their safety. Tracks making up the image suggested vessel speeds of up to 102 knots (188 km/h), further suggesting they were fake. Pro-Russian actors likely conducted the spoofing as an information operation, potentially in an attempt to bolster Russian morale ahead of an anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive. The spoofing of AIS increases the risk of maritime accidents. Despite Russian virtual information operations in the Black Sea, its physical navy remains vulnerable: the Ivan Khurs intelligence-gathering vessel was likely attacked on 24 May 2023.”