Hacker says he knows how to break into airplane systems

Cyber security researcher Ruben Santamarta says he knows ways to hack airplanes' satellite communications equipment, and that he is taking his findings to the public in the hope that potential security flaws will be fixed.

Santamarta, a consultant with computer security firm IOActive, says hackers can control an airplane's satellite communications equipment through its WiFi signals and inflight entertainment system, according to Reuters.

He is scheduled to explain technical details this Thursday (August 7, 2014) during the Black Hat hacking conference in Las Vegas, the United States.

The Black Hat convention is an annual occasion where hackers and security experts gather to discuss emerging cyber threats and ways to improve cyber security.

In his presentation entitled "Satcom Terminals: Hacking by Air, Sea, and Land", Santamarta will explore the vulnerabilities of satellite communications, or Satcom.

Santamarta says security flaws exist in Satcom equipment made for not only aerospace, but also maritime transportation.

"The ability to disrupt, inspect, modify, or re-route [satellite communications] traffic provides an invaluable opportunity to carry out attacks," according to Santamarta.

The 32-year-old says his firm IOActive had analyzed devices from leading Satcom vendors used to access services including Inmarsat's SwiftBroadBand and Classic Aero Services, and found out that 100 percent of the devices could be abused.

"These devices are wide open. The goal of this talk is to help change that situation," Santamarta told Reuters.

However, he noted that his findings have only been tested in controlled environments, such as IOActive's laboratory, and they might be difficult to replicate in the real world.

Representatives from Satcom equipment manufacturers such as Cobham Plc said they had reviewed Santamarta's research and confirmed some of his findings, but downplayed the risks, according to Reuters.

Cobham spokesman Greg Caires was cited by Reuters as saying that it is not possible for hackers to use WiFi signals to interfere with critical systems that rely on satellite communications for navigation and safety.

Santamarta has said he will respond to such comment during his Black Hat presentation.