Air Traffic Control System Vulnerable to Cyber Terrorism

In years past, there have been numerous public cases of hacks and viruses that have taken place across the United States.  President Obama announced on May 29 that he will create a new White House office of cyber security, due to the nation’s vulnerability to cyber attacks.  The President said that the U.S. has for too long failed to adequately protect the security of its computer networks. President Obama called the cyber threats one of the most serious economic and military dangers the nation faces.

Recently, reports have warned that America’s air traffic control systems are susceptible to cyber attacks.  The Federal Aviation Administration is in the process of modernizing its system.  The satellite-based air traffic control system is heavily reliant on commercial software and IP-based technology, which creates more opportunities for outsiders to hack into the FAA systems.  There have been 763 identified high-risk vulnerabilities that could give immediate access into an FAA computer system.  Insufficient monitoring coverage of air traffic control (ATC) systems creates another weakness for the FAA.

This is not the first time that the FAA has been under attack.  Hackers have actually gained access to FAA systems in the past, including one that caused a partial shutdown of ATC systems in Alaska.