(May 5, 2009 – NETRAGARD.com) – As airline passengers’ in-flight use of the Internet begins to grow, recent findings show that the practice leaves their computers and Wi-Fi equipped mobile devices wide open to spying, intrusion and attacks by hackers. Anti-hacking specialists Netragard recently discovered the vulnerability – and they say the reason is simple: The leading wireless in-flight Internet access service, Gogo® Inflight Internet, does not encrypt communications between users (passengers) and the Wireless Access Points on the aircraft. As a result, it is extremely easy for a hacker on board to intercept and record all data sent and received by passengers, including e-mails, attachments, usernames, passwords, social security numbers, credit card information, methods for accessing business networks, trade secrets – in short, anything at all.
«The risk is so great because it doesn’t even require hacking expertise to spy on any other passenger’s computer,» explains Dave Morris, CEO of Netragard. «It is literally possible to intercept someone else’s data accidentally.» While Mr. Morris declines to share the exact procedure one would use to spy on one’s fellow passengers, he explains that, «it is already well-known to the hacking community.»
Netragard’s advice? For the time being, keep those laptops closed, cell-phones quiet and wait until you land to make any purchases, check your e-mails or finalize business deals. It’s currently the only way to keep your business from becoming somebody else’s information.
