Lightweight, cheap and easily accessible, civilian drones have become an important part of modern warfare, providing terrorist and insurgent groups with a new tool for troop surveillance and attack. Being a fixed structure, military bases are even more at risk as their position is known to enemy forces. Explosive materials on the site can put team members at even more risk if an enemy drone hits the right target.

Prisons have become major targets of malevolent drone use with smugglers using the small airborne devices to deliver contraband, such as small weapons, telephones and drugs, to inmates in the prison yard or directly to their cells. This increase in illegal drone activity has seen a rise in inmate violence and deaths caused by overdoses. One case in France saw a drone used for reconnaissance before a high-profile prisoner was able to escape.

Hacker drones can intercept information from portable devices and servers, exposing sensitive data or even permitting access to security systems.

The presidential palace hosts the most powerful decision-maker in the nation. Drones, easy to obtain and able to bypass traditional ground security, can put leaders at risk of attack or espionage. Previous incidents in countries such as Japan, USA, France and Saudi Arabia have shown the panic and unwanted media coverage that follows a drone intrusion on this type of site.

Increased tensions between protest groups and security forces, as well as a heightened terrorist threat throughout the world, have put police patrols at high risk of drone attacks. Malevolent actors using hacker drones may launch cyber-attacks against police servers or communications or run reconnaissance on police movements.

Military patrols are highly vulnerable to drone attacks. In battlefields like Syria and Iraq, agile drones fitted with explosives regularly sweep in and out, harassing troops or surveilling their movements. According to military experts, drones are rapidly replacing IED’s as a principal threat on many battlefields.

Corporate secrets are closely guarded and with good reason – unscrupulous competitors will do anything to get an edge. With a router and mini-PC, a hacker drone can listen in on sensitive conversations or swipe information directly from servers or portable devices.

Stately monuments to engineering ingenuity, skyscrapers form a prominent part of many cityscapes. That same prominence makes them tempting targets to terrorists and insurgents using drones to carry explosives to stage an attack. Uninformed tourists have already crashed their devices into skyscrapers in major cities around the world, putting workers and bystanders at risk of serious injury.

Drones have become a useful tool for oil and gas companies to inspect inaccessible areas of offshore rigs. However, in the hands of a terrorist or insurgent group a weaponized drone launched from a small boat could inflict major damage to rig infrastructure and injury to its crew. Five kgs of explosives is all it takes to cause serious damage and shut down operations for a considerable period of time.

Drones have become a useful tool for petrochemical companies to inspect inaccessible areas of their sites. However, in the hands of a terrorist or insurgent group a weaponized drone could inflict major damage to infrastructure and injury to its crew. Any incident, even a harmless one, can have an extremely negative effect on public and official opinion.

Drones present a significant risk to airport operations. A drone entering the flightpath of arriving and departing aircraft puts lives and equipment at grave risk. A runway shutdown due to drone intrusions is extremely expensive, costing millions of dollars and provoking flight delays and diversions.

Drones have become a useful tool for mining companies to inspect inaccessible areas of their operations. However, in the hands of a terrorist or insurgent group a weaponized drone could inflict major damage to exposed operations and injury to crew. Security breaches can incite increased insurance costs and bad publicity from press and corporate partners.

In 2016, the discovery of a hacker drone perched on the roof of Credit Suisse server room in Zurich underscored yet again the dangers that drones pose to sensitive information. A hacker drone can break into servers, work stations and even mobile phones – all without ever entering a building.

As proven by recent high-profile incidents, nuclear power plant installations are worryingly vulnerable to drone intrusions. With scrutiny of nuclear energy especially high, any incident, even a harmless one, can have an extremely negative effect on public and official opinion.

Boat owners and their visitors demand total confidentiality when relaxing on their private watercraft. However, low-cost drones provide the perfect tool for those looking to get unwelcomely close or, more dangerously, malevolent groups or individuals with murderous intent.

When a crowd gathers together to hear their favorite artist or support a political cause they do not realize that danger may hover just above them. From those with malevolent intent who use drones to attack events from the air, to those whose curiosity leads them to fly their devices in restricted space with disastrous results – drones represent a security nightmare for event organizers.

We all demand total confidentiality when relaxing at home, whether we are a celebrity or not. However, low-cost drones provide the perfect tool for those looking to get unwelcomely close or, more dangerously, malevolent groups or individuals with murderous intent.

What was meant to be a wonderful time with friends and family can rapidly become a nightmare if a malevolent drone or drones strike with weapons. A drone falling from the sky can damage park infrastructure or cause serious injury to visitors or staff – even provoking a panicked stampede.

Stadiums and other large sports venues are often crowded and open to the sky. They are thus extremely vulnerable to drone attacks or accidents, whether at the hands of over-enthusiastic fans or militants with political or terrorist agendas. A safe venue is important and an unsecure sky with recurring drone incidents can dampen the image of a stadium.

Visitors demand complete privacy when relaxing away from home. However, low-cost drones provide the perfect tool for those looking to get unwelcomely close to unsuspecting guests or, more dangerously, malevolent groups or individuals with murderous intent.