Hacks on a Plane: Researchers Warn It’s Only ‘a Matter of Time’ Before Aircraft Get Cyber Attacked

Kevin Kelleher

<p>Since 9/11, airlines, airports and government agencies have introduced many travel security measures aimed at protecting passengers from a terrorist attack. Some researchers in the US government are starting to show concern about another avenue of attack: remote hacking of an airplane.</p><div class="paywall-selector"></div><div class="paywall">
<p>Among the chief concerns are the &#8220;potential of catastrophic disaster,&#8221; should an aircraft be breached while in flight, according to a <a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/d3kwzx/documents-us-government-hacking-planes-dhs">report</a> from <em>Motherboard</em> that drew on documents from the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies. One risk-assessment presentation called an airline breach &#8220;a matter of time.&#8221;</p>
<p>Last November, a DHS official said at a cybersecurity conference that he had <a href="http://www.aviationtoday.com/2017/11/08/boeing-757-testing-shows-airplanes-vulnerable-hacking-dhs-says/">remotely hacked</a> the systems of an airplane parked at the airport in Atlantic City, N.J. The breach, which relied on the aircraft&#8217;s radio-frequency communications, took place in September 2016.</p>
<p>The documents obtained by <em>Motherboard</em> indicated that DHS researchers have been conducting similar attempts to explore airplanes&#8217; vulnerability to remote attacks. While security experts have warned about airline cyberattacks for years and airlines say they&#8217;ve have been investing in cybersecurity measures, many vulnerabilities still remain.</p>
<p>“Today’s commercial aviation backbone is built upon a network of trust,” a slide from a 2016 DHS presentation reads. &#8220;Most commercial aircraft currently in use have little to no cyber protections in place.&#8221;</p>
<p>Most commercial aircraft have a life cycle of 20 or more years, so the current vulnerabilities could last for another 15-20 years, the presentation noted.</p></div>

U.S. government researchers are concerned about the remote hacking of airplanes.

Hacked Planes Are Only 'a Matter of Time' says Gov't Researchers

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"Most commercial aircraft currently in use have little to no cyber protections in place."

Hacks on a Plane: Researchers Warn It's Only 'a Matter of Time' Before Aircraft Get Cyber Attacked

Hacked Planes Are Only 'a Matter of Time' says Gov't Researchers | Fortune

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Hacks on a Plane: Researchers Warn It’s Only ‘a Matter of Time’ Before Aircraft Get Cyber Attacked

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