The Federal Aviation Administration is requiring Boeing to prove that their new 787 aircraft is hacker safe. They say it is, computer security experts are saying that Boeing may have made their internet connection hack-proof. But if they did, it would be the very first time in history.
Boeing claims it has engineered safeguards to shut out unauthorized users, but some security analysts worry navigation and communications systems could be vulnerable.
"The odds of this being perfect are zero," said Bruce Schneier, chief technology officer at the security services firm BT Counterpane. "It's possible Boeing can make their connection to the Internet secure. If they do, it will be the first time in mankind anyone's done that."
But Boeing spokeswoman Lori Gunter said 787's aviation electronics "are not connected in any way to the Internet."
Boeing has designed the 787 to allow airlines to offer passengers more in-flight entertainment and Internet options than previous planes have allowed.
Those new features and other aspects of 787's computer network go beyond the scope of existing regulations, so the Federal Aviation Administration is requiring Boeing to show the new technology won't pose a safety threat.
In a "special condition" the FAA has ordered Boeing to satisfy, the agency notes that the 787 "allows new kinds of passenger connectivity to previously isolated data networks connected to systems that perform functions required for the safe operation of the airplane.
"Because of this new passenger connectivity, the proposed data network design and integration may result in security vulnerabilities from intentional or unintentional corruption of data and systems critical to the safety and maintenance of the airplane."
The new iPhone was hacked in what, a few days? Likewise the security of the high-definition DVDs. The hackers have even cracked into the MacBook. I honestly don't care if some passengers want internet access on the airplane – I would rather not be the test case for Boeing's security. Stunningly bad idea. Any security can be broken, often in unforeseen ways (as with the MacBook hack.)
I just did some research on this and yes there does appear to be a possibility of a hacker causing some type of disruption. Particularly when the 787 is at the gate and a wireless lan will allow maintenance personal to download and configure systems on the aircraft. The article mentions secure firewalls and a separate central computer.
The amount of software in aircraft has expanded exponentially in recent years and Airbus is in a similar mode. It is amazing how much we rely on computer code.
exerpt—Gatelink is used today for things like passenger e-mail, but this is the first time a maintenance technician with a wireless laptop (equipped with a Wi-Fi card) can walk up to the aircraft and get maintenance info on and off the airplane,” Boeing’s Sinnett says.—
http://www.aviationtoday.com/av/categories/commercial/932.html
The only way to ensure the safety of the avionics is to have no have no shared wires and no wireless connections on the avionics side. As soon as you have one of those conditions, it’s vulnerable.
Have we learned nothing from “Battlestar Galactica”???
Not to mention “Independence Day”. Jeff Goldblum halted an alien attack by hacking into their computers and uploading a virus.
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