DEF CON hackers jammed Delta's Wi-Fi mid-flight
Delta Flight 591 from Vegas to Atlanta got hit with a rogue Wi-Fi network called "Delta WiFi Fast" broadcast by passengers returning from DEF CON 34. They jammed the aircraft's actual Wi-Fi and set up a scam network designed to trick people into connecting and stealing credentials.
Crew alerted corporate security. Authorities boarded at Atlanta and questioned passengers about the equipment used to broadcast the fake network.
The replies saying this is "technically uncomplicated" are missing the point. Yes, it's simple. That's exactly why no one pulls this on planes: the consequences are severe and immediate. These passengers just proved what happens when that calculation changes.
DELTA FLIGHT 591 CARRYING PASSENGERS FROM DEF CON 34 IN LAS VEGAS HIT BY SUSPECTED WI-FI ATTACK MID AIR. Delta Flight 591 from Las Vegas to Atlanta reportedly encountered a suspected Wi-Fi attack involving passengers returning from DEF CON 34, which concluded in Las Vegas on August 9. According to an ACARS message sent by the crew, passengers were able to jam the aircraft’s Wi-Fi and broadcast a rogue network called “Delta WiFi Fast.” “WE HAVE A BUNCH OF PAX THAT WERE AT A CYBER CONFERENCE IN LAS… THEY WERE ABLE TO JAM OUR WIFI AND BROADCAST THEIR SIGNAL.” A second message alerted corporate security: “WE HAVE A PAX ON THIS HAS CREATED A SCAM WIFI CALLED DELTA WIFI FAST. WE BELIEVE THEY ARE TRYING TO SCAM THE OTHER PAX.” The technique involves a malicious device impersonating a legitimate Wi-Fi network and attempting to trick users into connecting to it. Once connected, victims can potentially be directed to fraudulent login pages designed to capture credentials or other sensitive information. After the aircraft arrived at ATL and parked at Gate A18, authorities reportedly boarded the aircraft and questioned passengers while investigating the suspected rogue network and the equipment used to broadcast it. Some of the passengers had just returned from DEF CON, one of the world’s largest cybersecurity conferences. The investigation will determine exactly what happened.
Source
x.com