While the threat to the aviation industry can cost lives, it is possible to prevent such mishaps by understanding and working on defending the vulnerabilities in its systems. What we need are well-thought-out solutions. For example, there are software-hardware complexes which ensures information security on aircraft. They are easy to install directly on an aircraft of any class. It determines whether existing devices have been replaced or new ones installed on the aircraft data bus and constantly monitors information exchange channels for hardware bugs and malicious sequences. If a threat is detected, the device blocks it and notifies the pilot/aircraft owner of the blocked attack. Meanwhile, the normal functioning of all key components of the aircraft is monitored continuously.

Eurocontrol data from the agency’s EATM-CERT (European Air Traffic Management Computer Emergency Response Team) shows that cyber-attacks are increasing drastically. There is a whopping 530% year-on-year rise from 2019 to 2020 in reported incidents across the aviation industry. At one point, United Airlines had to suspend all its flights over the United States when false flight plans appeared on its computer systems. Later, various forms of malware were detected in personal email accounts. Cyber attacks not only cause huge financial and commercial damage but puts the lives of many at risk.