Tag Archive for: airport

Cyber Security and IoT in Transportation

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TSA increases security at DC airport ahead of Biden’s Inauguration

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  • The Transportation Security Administration has ‘significantly increased’ security at DC airports ahead of Inauguration Day. 
  • Following the attacks at the Capitol building two weeks ago, TSA is processing hundreds of names with law enforcement agencies for a thorough risk assessment, according to a statement published Friday.
  • Similar to previous inaugurations, screening officers will be deployed to assist the Secret Service by screening individuals along the parade route and those authorized to attend the Inauguration in-person.

  • But TSA Media Relations manager Robert Langston told Insider that while the agency has a traditional role in security related to presidential inaugurations, “this year may be different in that there is still a pandemic and a different threat environment.”

  • Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.

The Transportation Security Administration has ‘significantly increased’ security at DC airports ahead of Inauguration Day, the agency announced in a statement Friday. 

Following the attacks at the Capitol building on Jan. 6, TSA is processing hundreds of names with law enforcement agencies for a thorough risk assessment.

“Our intelligence and vetting professionals are working diligently around the clock to ensure those who may pose a threat to our aviation sector undergo enhanced screening or are prevented from boarding an aircraft,” the statement said.

Read more: Biden’s inauguration is raising tens of millions of dollars but won’t say how it’s spending the money

As in previous inaugurations, TSA officers will be deployed to assist the Secret Service by screening individuals along the parade route and those authorized to attend the Inauguration in-person. Beyond the Inauguration grounds, TSA has implemented additional layers of security at all three Washington, DC-area airports, according to the TSA statement.

Those security layers include more law enforcement and explosives detection canine teams, random gate screening, increased number of Federal Air Marshals on certain flights, and additional Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response teams to provide greater security presence at certain rail transportation hubs.

While the US…

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Russian hackers attack proved VPN providers were right about airport Wi-Fi

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Russian hackers may have infiltrated more targets in the US than previously thought, new reports have claimed.



a group of people standing in front of a store: laptop airport security

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laptop airport security

More information has come to light regarding a Russian hack that targeted US airports earlier this year. The New York Times reports that the hack was carried out by a state-backed group known as “Dragonfly” or “Energetic Bear,” which has also recently been found infiltrating state and local government computer systems.

Back in March, the collective hacked into Wi-Fi systems at San Francisco International Airport and two other airports on the US’ West Coast. An analysis of the attack indicated that the hackers were likely searching for a specific individual to infect. Instead of compromising the hundreds of thousands of people that would have connected to the airports’ Wi-Fi networks, only 10 were.

VPN providers have long stressed that airport networks represent a security risk, encouraging travellers to adopt a VPN solution to keep themselves protected. Given the time and resources at the disposal of hackers like Energetic Bear, all available safeguards should be employed.

Election time

In 2016, reports of Russian interference in the US presidential election surfaced and it appears likely that the same will happen again as Donald Trump prepares to take on Joe Biden in his bid for a second term.

It is thought that Energetic Bear is attempting to infiltrate state and local government networks by first targeting random individuals before using that foothold to find more interesting targets. The hackers are unlikely to reveal their true aim until nearer to the election, however, which takes place on November 3.

Given that Energetic Bear has already claimed some high-profile targets with its previous hacks, US government officials will be on high alert. In recent years, the group stands accused of infiltrating energy systems in Germany and the US, including a nuclear power plant.

Via NYTimes

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