People who suffer from flying phobia, beware: Systems of newer planes can be hacked.
Newer commercial airlines are vulnerable to being taken over by someone remotely hacking and using the plane’s passenger Wi-Fi networks, according to a new Government Accountability Office report.
The planes vulnerable include the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the Airbus 350 and A380 aircraft, the author of the report, Gerald Dillingham told CNN Tuesday. These planes have advanced cockpits that are connected with the same Wi-Fi networks used by passengers, leaving them vulnerable to the hacking.
“Modern communications technologies, including IP connectivity, are increasingly used in aircraft systems, creating the possibility that unauthorized individuals might access and compromise aircraft avionics systems,” the report said. “According to cybersecurity experts we interviewed, Internet connectivity in the cabin should be considered a direct link between the aircraft and the outside world, which includes potential malicious actors.”
Once inside the system — which could be done using just a laptop by someone on the plane or on the ground — that person could control the airplane, put a virus into flight control computers, take control of the computers or even take over the plane’s navigation systems.
Dillingham did say that despite the vulnerabilities, plane systems have enough redundancy mechanisms built in that could allow a pilot to correct a problem caused by the hacking.
Members of both the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Commerce Committee requested the report.
The FAA needs to fix these vulnerabilities and discrepancies as soon as possible, the report concluded.
