Airplanes' Flight Computers May Be Vulnerable To Hackers

Gizmodo:

As if we didn't have enough with crotchbombs and the TSA, the FAA is now saying that "[passenger networking] may result in security vulnerabilities" exposing flight systems to hackers. But, how serious is this danger?

Read the whole story: Gizmodo

Comments

[aspelling]

09:11 PM on 01/19/2010

It's total BS, flight computers are mostly using AFDX or ARINC to communicate. These networks are completely closed from any external intrusion. Both of them are not exposed to the passengers
The network accessible to the passengers is an entertainment network which has not connection to the control network. It won't get FAA approved otherwise.
Do you think a/c engineers are as dumb as IT specialists?

[kurtvb]

07:34 PM on 01/19/2010

This does not seem so far fetched. you could leave a web enabled smartphone stashed on the plane, have it run a script when the altimeter app senses that it is at a certain altitude, open a network connection and take control of a jetliner from the ground. Each plane would have to be swept for electronic devices after every flight. How about people learn to just relax for 5 minutes and turn everything off when in flight.