Slashdot Mirror
Remote Control To Prevent Aircraft Hijacking
Snad writes "The UK's Evening Standard is reporting that Boeing plans to roll out aircraft remote control systems in a bid to eliminate the threat of terrorist hijackings, and prevent any repetition of the events of September 11 2001. 'Scientists at aircraft giant Boeing are testing the tamper-proof autopilot system which uses state-of-the-art computer and satellite technology. It will be activated by the pilot flicking a simple switch or by pressure sensors fitted to the cockpit door that will respond to any excessive force as terrorists try to break into the flight deck. Once triggered, no one on board will be able to deactivate the system. Currently, all autopilots are manually switched on and off at the discretion of pilots. A threatened airliner could be flown to a secure military base or a commercial airport, where it would touch down using existing landing aids known as 'autoland function'.'"
So now instead of hijacking one plane to destroy one target on the ground, they'll be trying to compromise this system to remotely hijack hundereds or thousands of planes from the comfort of their living room. That's a scary thought. Fortunately, I doubt many fellow slashdotters will argue that IT security pros are far more adept than TSA at preventing attacks on their respective 'networks'... This will be interesting.
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In order to prevent a repeat of 9/11, we are going to impliment a system, which makes it possible for a terrorist group to remotely hijack a plane, with the on board pilot being completely unable to resume control of the plane?
Wonderful. Hopefully it will be as hackproof as the RFID in a passport.
Wait, didn't you even read the summary? They already thought of this: it's tamper-proof!