On public transit, from buses to train stations to new-build subway systems, hackers are quickening their pace of attacks. And it’s going to get worse too, according to a report from CERT-In. They’re hoping this will be an opportunity for people and businesses in the transit sector “to take proactive measures” by investing in mitigation strategies that have been proven to work.
The report also called for the need for a security vulnerability disclosure policy, the adoption of which will help bring focus on transit systems, especially as newer vehicles are being built.
“The transit sector is faced with threat actors that are moving at a faster pace and trying to attack them before they become hardened targets.” The report recommends that any company or organization in this sector must familiarise themselves with existing industry standards, such as ISO/IEC 15408. They should also secure their network infrastructure in order to protect it from unauthorized access.
The report also identified requirements for relevant equipment and software that can help lower the risk of attacks, such as access control and biometrics systems that can be used to detect fraudulent behavior. In addition, they should consider implementing content-based protection for their data.
The report also highlighted the need for management systems and training for all employees in the transit sector. This would help ensure that they know how to detect any malware on their local systems and what action to take to remove it. “This is a great education opportunity,” says MacDonald, “but one that will only work if you are serious about security.”
As inevitable as it is, the cyber attack of mass transit systems is here. And while there is no silver bullet to prevent it entirely, there are ways to help mitigate the problem… at least if you know what to do.
This post was written by Justin Tidd, Director at https://www.swartzengineering.com. For nearly a half a century, Swartz Engineering has been at the forefront of industry safety. They are a family-owned company specializing in power distribution for the electrical industry. Our design ensures maximum flexibility for excellent reliability and a high return on investment.