A LEADING cyber-security expert has warned that there is an increasing danger of hackers targeting drones.

There are 200,000 commercial drones sold every month worldwide and these growing sales have raised concerns over their security.

Dorset police has recently launched its own drone unit and other emergency services are expected to do the same.

Matt Horan of Dorset-based cyber-security company C3IA Solution feels that the risk of hackers targeting drones is just one of the latest threats in the cyber-sphere.

"It is easy for anyone to ‘hijack’ a drone and take control of it away from the legitimate owner and then direct its actions," Mr Horan said.

"If the software is not ‘locked-down’ it can be ‘re-coded on the fly’. So the vulnerabilities – or attack vectors – need to be suitably mitigated by technical controls.

"The fact that drones are vulnerable is not anything new; as with all technology, security is rarely considered important at the outset."

Earlier this week a drone flying in the vicinity of Gatwick Airport forced runway operations to be suspended, with two flights being diverted to Bournemouth Airport.

Whilst this was not caused by a hacker, it highlights the danger that can be caused.

Drones are commonly used across the country to take aerial photographs, assist in crowd control situations and help fight crime.

Globally they are also used by drug cartels in South America, by terrorist groups such as Hezbollah to launch air strikes and by insurgent groups in the Ukraine to attack Russia.