this post was submitted on 05 Jun 2026
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A random sequence in an innocuous GPS message field is likely encrypted traffic from the U.S. military's system for remotely updating cryptographic keys around the world.

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[–] mkwt@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago

If the OTA distribution system went online in 2011, it would have been for P/Y code, which is the original military-use code that launched with the GPS satellites.

P/Y originally provided better position precision than the unclassified C/A code, under a program called Selective Availability (SA). SA was deactivated in 2000 by executive order of President Bill Clinton. Since that time, P/Y only provides an anti-spoofing feature that helps receivers to authenticate genuine GPS.

The military is now in the process of moving to a new, third code called M-code. M-code required updated satellites to be launched, as old ones were retired, and it required big overhauls to the ground control networks. After about 10 years of delays, M-code is now in process of rolling out to end users in the military.

I'm conclusion, a possible reason to retire this old program is because users are now moving to M-code.