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Boeing 787 May Be Vulnerable to Hacker Attack

palegray.net writes "An article posted yesterday on Wired.com notes that 'Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner passenger jet may have a serious security vulnerability in its onboard computer networks that could allow passengers to access the plane's control systems, according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.' They're already working on solutions to the problem - including placing more physical separation between aircraft networks and implementing more robust software-based firewalls."

14 of 332 comments (clear)

  1. Restriction on software during flight? by El_Muerte_TDS · · Score: 5, Funny

    No more playing MS Flight Sim.

    1. Re:Restriction on software during flight? by flyingfsck · · Score: 3, Funny

      Nope, you'll have to switch to Flight Gear http://www.flightgear.org/

      --
      Excuse me, but please get off my Pennisetum Clandestinum, eh!
    2. Re:Restriction on software during flight? by nospam007 · · Score: 5, Funny


      Bluetooth alert: New device detected, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, install?

  2. Re:I don't get it... by dunezone · · Score: 5, Funny

    Exactly, who the hell thought that it would be a good idea to allow the passenger network and pilot network system to even communicate with each other.

    Oh wait I got it, what if terrorist took over the cabin, but then a passenger(Justin Long) who is a master hacker controls the plane from his seat using his cell phone, and safely lands the plane but after he flipped it a few times so the terrorist would be knocked unconscious. Who has Bruckheimer's phone number I have an idea.

  3. Re:I don't get it... by urcreepyneighbor · · Score: 2, Funny

    Oh wait I got it, what if terrorist took over the cabin, but then a passenger(Justin Long) who is a master hacker controls the plane from his seat using his cell phone, and safely lands the plane but after he flipped it a few times so the terrorist would be knocked unconscious. Who has Bruckheimer's phone number I have an idea. Wrong, wrong, wrong! Everyone knows all the l33t ub3r h4ck3r$ use MacBooks.

    Now, maybe, if the cell phone is a iPhone... It may be plausible....
    --
    "The fight for freedom has only just begun." - Geert Wilders
  4. Pilots access to Internet by alegrepublic · · Score: 4, Funny
    My guess is that the navigation and control network is connected to the Internet for one of the following reasons:
    • If the plane deviates from the flight plan, access to Google Maps may become handy to plan a new route
    • While on autopilot, access to certain web sites may provide some entertainment to the captain, who usually is a lonely man
    • Given the bad quality of many onboard speakers, announcements from the cockpit can be emailed or IM'ed to passengers
    • Hacker intrusion may be a better excuse than malfunctioning engine as the reason for a plane crash
    • No more planes grounded due to lack of pilot operating manual, as it could be easily downloaded from the Internet
    I am sure there are many other good reasons to connect the navigation network to the Internet, so this list is not exhaustive.
  5. Re:I don't get it... by Linker3000 · · Score: 5, Funny

    A simple solution would be to use Token Ring for the avionics and plain old 100BaseT for the passenger areas - and then send to Guantanamo anyone Googling 'madge' or 'wtf is 802.5'.

    --
    AT&ROFLMAO
  6. Hi There ... by IchBinEinPenguin · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... It looks like you're trying to take over the flight controls ...

    Or, for a more unix-y flavour...

    # cat /dev/random > /dev/aileron

  7. Where your flying car is... by ImaLamer · · Score: 2, Funny

    As described on a Seinfeld episode:


    GEORGE: When are they gonna have the flying cars, already?
    JERRY: Yeah, they have been promising that for a while..
    GEORGE: Years. When we were kids, they made it seem like it was right around the corner.
    JERRY: I think Ed Begley Jr. has one.
    GEORGE: No. That's just electric.
    JERRY: What about Harrison Ford? He had one in, uh, Blade Runner. That was a cool one.
    GEORGE: (Sarcastic) What's the competition, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?
    JERRY: Well, what do you think the big holdup is?
    GEORGE: The government is very touchy about us being in the air. Let us run around on the ground as much as we want. Anything in the air is a big production.
    JERRY: Yeah, right. And what about the floating cities?
    GEORGE: And the underwater bubble cities?
    JERRY: It's like we're living in the '50s here!

  8. Re:I don't get it... by NoPantsJim · · Score: 5, Funny

    Claiming that you're under an NDA made me think you were completely BSing and trying to raise your e-coolness level.

    Then I saw your sig and realized you must be a college student studying engineering/networking/compsci. Sorry I ever doubted you.

  9. Re:I don't get it... by GaryOlson · · Score: 4, Funny

    Exactly. The lower air pressure on the ether in the net could cause the firewall filter to actually pass packets as a result of reverse osmosis. This could be quite evident in streaming data which could possibly sublimate into a data cloud -- for which the filter was not designed. Albeit, the temperature will have to be increased in the firewall; or a longer timeout will need to be configured to allow for the higher altitude.

    --
    Every mans' island needs an ocean; choose your ocean carefully.
  10. Re:I don't get it... by Alsee · · Score: 2, Funny

    If you increase the temperature in the firewall you have to be very careful not to melt the Black ICE behind it.

    -

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    - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
  11. Re:I don't get it... by Fred_A · · Score: 5, Funny

    So, to be clear. Every seat has a seat-back screen in front of it, capable of displaying messages - but you would prefer a separate wire going to every seat to power a 'fasten your seatbelts' bulb?

    Uh, OK. I'm in favor of a full fledged IRC server so that the pilots can talk to the passengers. After all if you have a network why not use it. /join UA435
    --- Welcome to Flight United Airlines 435 to Tokyo
    --- Please read the safety card in the back of the seat on fron of you

    <seat44G> HOW DOES THIS THING WORK?
    <seat112A> LOL n00b !!!
    <Pilot> Please fasten your seatbelts

    --

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