Airlines
United Grounding Highlights Worries over Cyber Attacks
IATA warns of airline industry’s vulnerability
The highly automated and interconnected airline industry presents a particularly attractive target for cyber attacks, according to IATA. (Photo: United Airlines)
The highly automated and interconnected airline industry presents a particularly attractive target for cyber attacks, according to IATA. (Photo: United Airlines)

As one of the most complex and integrated networks of information and communications technology in the world, the global aviation system presents an attractive target for a large-scale cyber-attack, warn cyber security experts. The airline industry in particular relies on its computer systems for both ground and flight operations, making a potential attack not only a direct threat to the safety of an aircraft in flight, but also to the industry’s reputation and financial health.