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Boeing's New 787 May Be Vulnerable to Hacker Attack

wired.com — 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,The computer network in the Dreamliner's passenger compartment, designed to give passengers in-flight internet access, is connected to everything the plane controls.

Who dugg this? Made popular Jan 6, 2008

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245 Comments

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  • Mononuclear, on 01/06/2008, -9/+214Who designed this thing and thought it was a good idea to hook the flight controls to the same network as the passengers internet connection?
  • rpi22, on 01/06/2008, -3/+142I swear, I thought it was just a flight simulator!!
  • grumpyrain, on 01/06/2008, -5/+106> Boeing said it's aware of the issue and has designed a solution it will test shortly.

    Is it seriously that hard? Use different patch panels and physically segment the networks. There should be no possibility of even attempting authentication to any flight control system from within the passenger compartment.
  • Dradis, on 01/06/2008, -6/+102Everyone knows you don't network everything together, otherwise the Cylons can hack you in a matter of minutes. Adama is disappointed in you, Boeing.
  • pixelslinger, on 01/06/2008, -4/+100I said, I want to go to Disneyland!
  • unluckier, on 01/06/2008, -6/+93It's good to know that there are lives in the hands of people who didn't even think why this could be a problem.
  • Chairboy, on 01/06/2008, -0/+77I change the Bluetooth name on my laptop to things like "Boeing 737-900 Flight Control System" and see who tries to pair to it. Then it's easy to send pics I have ready to their phones/laptops that give various distressing messages. Good times are had by all.
  • noahhoward, on 01/06/2008, -1/+71"Hey, Wally, shouldn't we be using separate networks for this?"
    "And do twice the work?"
  • jasdf, on 01/06/2008, -2/+57Here is an example of just how possible it is to accidentally "crash" the plane.
    http://blogs.csoonline.com/node/151
  • CloseTheCode, on 01/06/2008, -2/+57This is a good thing. If you want to cheer up the pilot, just download bonzi buddy to his controls. THEN EVERYONE DIES!
  • adderx99, on 01/06/2008, -7/+61awesome. overload the network with data, crash the network. crash the plane. brilliant!
  • jadattack91, on 01/06/2008, -2/+50Maybe someone can edit those damn meals!!!!!
  • rhabd0mancer, on 01/06/2008, -0/+47If you see a 787 doing barrel rolls all the way to Russia, it has probably been haxxored.
  • branjb, on 01/06/2008, -1/+47Obviously we didn't learn anything from Battlestar Galactica.
  • DarkMeld, on 01/06/2008, -1/+46Last time i checked, hackers cant jump wires when the networks are physically separated
  • seanieb, on 01/06/2008, -1/+43Who would have thought that Rudy Giuliani would use digg? Weird...
  • isewise, on 01/06/2008, -1/+41I immediately thought of this classic Farside Comic when I read this story:
    http://www.uploadmart.com/users/15934/airplane%20s ...
  • BossKey, on 01/06/2008, -2/+42"oh hai,
    i upgraded yr flite path"
  • aphexcoil, on 01/06/2008, -0/+37ARE YOU SURE YOU WISH TO "CRASH PLANE" (Y/N)? Y
    ARE YOU REALLY SURE (Y/N)? Y
    ABSOLUTELY (Y/N)? Y

    CRASHING PLANE, PLEASE WAIT ...
  • afx1, on 01/06/2008, -0/+35no even better. the cockpit is taken over by terrorists and the hacker hero is in the very back row racing against time to overtake the planes control via his laptop which only has 20 min of juice left.
  • motters, on 01/06/2008, -3/+35This is a serious design flaw. As the article suggests the networks used for control of the plane and providing internet access to passengers should be physically separate. There should be no way that the two can interact, and as a long time software engineer I'm not buying the idea that the two networks are somehow separated in software.
  • Pauli92, on 01/06/2008, -2/+33So say we all!
  • roberto_deneero, on 01/06/2008, -6/+34Let me guess, the plane runs on Vista. Simply ***** brilliant.
  • jdpalite, on 01/06/2008, -1/+24Source?
  • georgetds, on 01/06/2008, -3/+26Oh, but think of the great hacker/action movie you could make with a plane like this in real life! Just picture the scene: Jet is cruising along just fine when suddenly, both the pilot and co-pilot are stricken with food poisoning or death or terrorists or something. The crew save the plane from food/death/terrorists but when it is realized that there is no pilot, what can be done? Enter our hacker hero - he stands up and claims he can fly the plane. Asked how much experience, he tells them about the hours and hours he plays flight simulators. Forced to accept his offer, they begin to conduct him to the cockpit, but wait, he won't go! No need, he says, I can hack the network from here! And doing so, he wires his laptop into the system fires up his favorite flight sim, and flies the plane back to safety.

    I think it would do well as a summer blockbuster. Dibs on credit and any money if this makes it!
  • briansearles, on 01/06/2008, -0/+22But I was only trying to torrent...!
  • tizz66, on 01/06/2008, -0/+22Is mother a swear word where you live?
  • elpresidente408, on 01/06/2008, -5/+25I always felt I could navigate the traffic at JFK better than the pilots anyway
  • induren, on 01/06/2008, -0/+18Yea you know daxsymbiont, I hacked a car's wheel yesterday with Ubuntu on my Tablet PC. It was great. You are indeed correct, every piece of technology is vulnerable to hackers, even those without wifi, wires, electricity, motherboards, software, etc. D00d that wh33l h4ck was the sh1t!
  • poiuytrewq44, on 01/06/2008, -3/+21Too damn smart? This is utter stupidity.
  • georgetds, on 01/06/2008, -0/+17Fatal error encountered: Black box systems activated.
  • Ryosen, on 01/06/2008, -1/+18...which won't do a damn bit of good if the hydraulics system is compromised.
  • killcereal, on 01/06/2008, -1/+17This is a perfect opportunity to combine the Rick Roll and the Barrel Roll.
  • bkrishnan, on 01/06/2008, -1/+17Crashing failed. Please restart the plane!
  • noahhoward, on 01/06/2008, -1/+16Instead of simply leaving them separate? How does that make sense?
  • superkeer, on 01/06/2008, -0/+15I guess now I can use my iPhone to fly the plane into terrible weather patterns.
  • MrWhite7, on 01/06/2008, -0/+15Despite What Microsoft Flight Simulator allows, I'm 99% that a loaded 747 could not survive a loop.
  • noahhoward, on 01/06/2008, -1/+16http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2292/2172578912_aa8 ...
  • PIPBoy2000, on 01/06/2008, -0/+14(in the picture) TURN ON THE TURBINES...NOW!!!
  • afx1, on 01/06/2008, -0/+13security by obscurity is not real security
  • saifatlast, on 01/06/2008, -5/+18Major network architecture issues don't just slip through. I think there is a lot of talking out your ass going on here.
  • JudgeMonkey, on 01/06/2008, -0/+13"Adjusting angle of approach, aligning wings with horizon.. OO hey, a monkey!"
  • Brassbud, on 01/06/2008, -0/+13"Boeing is tackling the issue but says it is employing a combination of solutions that involves some physical separation of the networks, known as "air gaps," and software firewalls."

    I give it two weeks until some 12-year-old in row F is the one flying the plane.
  • azbmr, on 01/06/2008, -0/+12Instead of "No Need" make it so there is an emergency locking mechanism for the cockpit door (anti-terrorist and stuff). For that edit, I'll just take 1%.
  • Herostratos, on 01/06/2008, -1/+13Next frontpage on digg.com:
    "Digg effect takes down Boeing 787"...
  • iching, on 01/06/2008, -1/+12By the FAA?
  • gamerzworld, on 01/06/2008, -0/+11THATS IT! I'M TIRED OF THESE ***** HACKERS, HACKING MY ***** PLANE!
    Sorry...Couldn't resist.
  • noahhoward, on 01/06/2008, -0/+10You didn't read it did you? You don't need to tap any wires you're already on the same network just by being on the plane.
  • inactive, on 01/06/2008, -1/+11its got norton, dont worry!
  • crapmatic, on 01/06/2008, -1/+11I guess Maryam Abacha and her team of 419 scammers will finally be able to fly planes to Nigeria to move that $250 million out of the country.
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