Hacker claims having "hacked" a plane... really? Show me, just do it!

[marylander1940]

A cybersecurity consultant told the FBI he hacked into computer systems aboard airliners up to 20 times and managed to control an aircraft engine during a flight, according to federal court documents.

 

Chris Roberts was detained by the FBI in April following a United Airlines flight to Syracuse, New York, after officials saw Twitter posts he made discussing hacking into the plane he was traveling on.

 

http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/17/us/fbi-hacker-flight-computer-systems/

 

http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/14/politics/gao-newer-aircraft-vulnerable-to-hacking/

 

I would just invite the hacker to an airport and ask him to hack a plane of his choosing...

[+ VeryHappyCustomer]

Enough detail has been published to convince me it would be possible. But the "hack" requires plugging a cat5 cable into the onboard network. In other words, it requires physical access that should be impossible and behavior that should attract notice of flight crew. The software configuration errors that let him access flight control systems via the onboard entertainment system are critical and will surely be addressed... But, IMHO, any flight crew stupid enough to allow a passenger to pull cables out of bulkheads and sealed conduits poses a more credible threat to flight safety.