FAA: Boeing's New 787 May Be Vulnerable to Hacker Attack

On Sat, 5 Jan 2008 21:44:52 -0800 (PST), Phil J
wrote in
:

Based on the article, it sounds like the passenger system and the
aircraft control system share some network infrastructure. I'm sure
they will place firewalls between them, but I think it would be a lot
safer to physically separate them. Of course that would probably cost
more money and add complexity. But if I was a pilot of a 787, I
wouldn't want even the ghost of a chance for a passenger to get access
the flight control systems.


What could be the possible motivation be for Boeing to mingle the
cabin computer system accessible by the passengers with the aircraft
control system computer? I fail to understand why their connection is
such an issue, that Boeing would consider doing it, let alone fight
the FAA over it. How could it possibly be justified?

BTW, I'm not an Airbus fan. I support Boeing since they are an
American company.

Our country would be far better off if its consumers all felt the way
you do, but because they don't, it's becoming more and more difficult
to even find American made products in the marketplace. And the US
need for foreign petroleum in particular should never have been
permitted to occur. As it is, the US transfer of wealth to the
mid-east is financing those who plot against us. What were our
leaders thinking?

But I am a computer geek and I don't really trust
network firewalls to be unhackable.

Because it's likely the cabin entertainment computer is physically
access able from the cabin, it's even more vulnerable to attack.