FAA shoots down hijacking demonstration via Android app
Source: techspot.com
Those preparing to fly the friendly skies can breathe a sigh of relief today as the Federal Aviation Administration has shot down widely-reported claims that a security researcher could theoretically hack into an airplane’s computer system and effectively hijack it using an Android app.
A recently-issued statement from the agency said they were aware that an IT consultant alleged he has detected a security issue with the Honeywell NZ-2000 Flight Management System. Upon further investigation the FAA concluded that the described technique does not work on certified flight hardware.
During a recent security conference in Amsterdam, Hugo Teso used virtual planes in a lab to demonstrate how the app would allow him to remotely hijack an airliner. The problem with the demonstration, according to the FAA, is that Teso utilized a PC-based training version of the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) software found in airplanes.
Read the rest: techspot.com