Society at large is increasingly connected. Technological advancements have become a part of most facets of life, and incredible benefits have followed. Of course, technology has generally made operations safer and more efficient for aviation. But wherever something is designed to be helpful, someone will likely find a way to use it for less-than-noble purposes.
Simple Flying recently had the chance to discuss this topic with Resilinc, a leader in global supply chain mapping and monitoring across various industries. According to Resilinc’s most recent information, year-on-year, cyberattacks have increased by 24% worldwide in the first half of 2023.
As some readers may remember, just a couple of months ago, London City Airport was attacked in such a way, and more recently, Birmingham Airport’s website was hacked. Of the many reported disruptions, cyberattacks appear in the top ten, below some which may be more obviously prominent, such as (but not limited to) labor issues, legal actions, and acquisitions.
Resilinc’s Chief Product Officer and co-founder, Sumit Vakil, commented on the emerging threat that continues to climb yearly. When asked about the overall industry risk of cyberattacks, Vakil suggests it’s multifaceted. Some may have read news of groups attacking major carriers, such as British Airways, which suffered a significant data breach including payroll info, or American and Southwest Airlines, which had pilot applicant information stolen. Aviation is supported by a nearly endless list of firms providing all the different services airlines need, and a cascade of issues can arise from any of those companies being attacked.
