FAA teams up with airline industry in secret meetings to combat hackers

Back in March a cybersecurity expert who warned of the potential for hacking into airline computer systems got himself booted off a United Airlines flight and then found himself the subject of an investigation by the FBI. Then last week hackers grounded 1,400 passengers in Warsaw when they brought down LOT Airlines’ computer system used to issue flight plans, and I’m pretty sure that cybersecurity expert could be seen mouthing the words, “I told you so.”

Now the Federal Aviation Administration, which is in private talks with airline officials to thwart hackers altogether, seems to be paying attention.

The Wall Street Journal reported that high-level meetings began this month between the FAA and a panel consisting of a cross-section of airline industry minds, including pilots, parts manufacturers, and plane makers. The primary goal of the talks is to pinpoint vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit to gain control of aircraft.

"The industry needs a set of graduated requirements," panel co-chairman Jens Hening told the Wall Street Journal, adding that the group aims to identify up to eight risk areas before agreeing on a game plan to prevent cyberattacks.

The gravity of the hacking threat was echoed earlier this year by Boeing, which hired outside hacking experts it called "red hat testers” to test if its onboard security software can be manipulated or compromised.

If only we lived in a world where hackers used their powers for good instead of evil, like this chap who turned an Uber site into a petition to get a giant Slip-N-Slide, the earth would be a better place.