GPS failures: General Staff advises turning off automatic time on phones

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has warned citizens about possible problems with the accuracy of navigation and time on mobile phones due to the use of electronic warfare equipment during the repulsion of air attacks by Russian occupiers.

Using GPS spoofing to counter enemy drones

According to electronic warfare specialists, to increase the effectiveness of countering enemy drones that actively use GPS satellite navigation, the Ukrainian army uses methods of changing coordinates, known as GPS spoofing.

This allows you to disorient enemy equipment and knock it off course, creating obstacles to the effective use of enemy drones.

However, such measures have their side effects and can affect the operation of civilian devices.

Side effects for civilian devices

The General Staff reported that GPS spoofing can disrupt not only the accuracy of satellite navigation, but also the stable operation of the precise time system, which is often configured automatically on mobile phones.

If the automatic time update mode is enabled, the mobile device may display inaccurate time during such failures, which may cause confusion, especially during air alerts or other emergency events.

Recommendation of the General Staff: turn off automatic time update

It is advisable to turn off the automatic time update mode on the phone and take into account that during air alerts, the accuracy of satellite navigation systems may be impaired, advise the General Staff's electronic warfare specialists.

The General Staff calls on Ukrainians to follow the recommendations and take measures to minimize inconvenience.