Hackers Created a Device That Can Take Over a Boeing 737 Jet’s Autopilot Without Anyone Noticing
"You can shove in a piece of electronics a little bigger than a quarter that lets you basically tell the autopilot what to do." The post Hackers Created a Device That Can Take Over a Boeing 737 Jet’s Autopilot Without Anyone Noticing appeared first on Futurism .
Security researchers at the University of California, San Diego and Oberlin College have developed a tiny coin-sized device that can take control of a Boeing 737's autopilot system, altering its flight plan and tampering with critical flight calculations. According to lead researcher Stefan Savage, the device can be inserted into a hidden port on the exterior of the plane in just 15 seconds, requiring minimal tools.
Once connected, it can manipulate the autopilot, deceive the pilot about flight changes, and even be accessed remotely via the plane's in-flight Wi-Fi system. This vulnerability, discovered after extensive research, could lead to catastrophic consequences, such as taking the plane off course or causing it to crash. Despite notifying Boeing about the issue six years ago, the company has not provided a fix, as commercial aircraft typically undergo limited redesigns.
While the researchers insist that passengers shouldn't panic, cybersecurity experts have expressed concern, emphasizing the need for aviation defenses against such attacks.
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