Hijack by hack

Aviation regulators have refused to certify Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner passenger jet until it redesigns its computer system to protect against such an event, The Times has learnt.

The Federal Aviation Authority is concerned that terrorists could use the Dreamliner's in-flight internet system to connect to "systems critical to the safety and maintenance of the aircraft".

In a report released last week, the FAA said that Boeing had left the pilots' computers open to attack by connecting the Dreamliner's entertainment system to the pilots' controls.

A hacker with a computer and some IT training potentially could hijack the system from his seat.

Full story here. How could Boeing have allowed this to happen? It's like hooking up a toaster into one's burglar alarm.

FURTHER THOUGHT: If everything onboard is connected to everything else, and to the Internet as well, planes could conceivably be taken over or crashed remotely. One moment they're telling us anything electrical is too dangerous to use during takeoff or landing, and the next, this.

Posted by David on January 8, 2008 8:45 PM