Air Scare

another snippet, originally published in my internal NSA blog about 10 years ago

the following was extracted from a recent e-mail conversation about the security of aircraft IT systems, avionics, in-flight internet, etc.

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...in the mid-late 90's, I was an invited speaker to the regional meeting of the FAA in New Jersey to talk about (heaven help me) Business Process Reengineering. When they found out what I did for a living (in the original System and Network Attack Center), we talked a bit about "cyber security".

Them: "We're not worried about hackers getting into the air traffic control system".

Me: "Why not?"

Them: "Our IT systems are so old that no one remembers the commands for them anymore".

Me: "I'm sure glad I drove out here".