Cyber Security: the hacking threat

25 Oct 2010

Online check-in is available in most airports; self baggage check is becoming a reality; baggage reconciliation systems are automated; computers help air traffic control coordinate the path of airplanes.  The age of technology has most definitely arrived.  It has brought with it a whole new breed of terrorists: cyber terrorists.   Stacy A. Shannon looks at how it is changing the role of aviation security around the world. 

As technology becomes more and more commonplace and relied upon, the consequences of its failure have become even greater, according to Karl Rauscher, chief technology officer and distinguished fellow of the East West Institute, an international think tank with offices in the United States, Belgium and Russia. “The bigger picture is that we’re depending on the technology more and more,” he said.  “Dependence is growing every year.” Jón Kristinn Ragnarsson, who recently received his master’s degree in international relations from the University of Iceland and has studied cyber security in Iceland, agreed with Rauscher.  He said with technology advancing rapidly and the industry depending heavily upon it, serious security infractions could have already occurred. “I would not be surprised if the possibility to board a plane undetected was already at the disposal of criminals,” he said.  “It could, of course, even have happened, but we just don’t know about it.  It would be in the interest of the government [and] airlines that the general public not know about things like that.  The extent of these crimes has probably not yet been realised.”           

Dr. Rex Hughes, associate fellow of cyber security at Chatham House, a think tank in the United Kingdom, said while terrorists may be able to do things such as a board a plane anonymously or even check bags undetected, major airport operations would most likely be their prime target.  While he doesn’t know of any instances where air traffic control has been penetrated, he said mechanical failures causing a similar situation have shown how vulnerable those systems really are.    “It doesn’t take much for either a technical flaw or the equivalent of a cyber attack to cause significant damage, if not loss of life,” Hughes said.  “Could a cyber attack disable parts of the aircraft control system?  Sure, it’s definitely possible, but the likelihood at this time is pretty low.  The risk may increase as the technology itself evolves.” MORE ONLINE

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