tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5689796206710355154.post7916060654107713413..comments2011-12-21T20:41:15.930-05:00Comments on IS251-02 Fall 2011 Loyola University in Maryland: Wi-Fi in the skyTheresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190691631297776370noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5689796206710355154.post-90076205785444976252011-10-30T18:27:11.042-04:002011-10-30T18:27:11.042-04:00Wi-fi on airplanes is certainly a benefit for busi...Wi-fi on airplanes is certainly a benefit for business people, and other passengers who simply would like something to do on a long flight. It would seem that this is a great technology—and even a market place. The airlines could sell access codes to only allow people, who pay for the service to utilize it — be it on a flight to flight basis, or a time based one, the potential for profitability is absolutely there. What I wonder is what would happen if someone used this wi-fi to potentially harm the systems of the plane. I’ll first say that I am by no means any expert on modern airplanes, but I believe that it is a safe assumption that they use a great deal of technology which can probably be hacked into via an internet connection. If this were to happen, what would stop the hacker from changing the auto-pilot controls or the any of the navigational technology on the plane to re-direct it to their desired destination unknown to the pilots? While cyber war-fare is uncommon and impractical, it does leave one to wonder just how vulnerable the systems of an aircraft are. Think of everyone time you have taken a flight—what do the stewardesses ask you to do? “Please switch all electronics and devices to the off position please”. Is this strictly for the sake of turbulence, or could the wi-fi technologies of your laptop, tablet, or phone interfere with the aircrafts systems?Doug D'Angelohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16847253521510936819noreply@blogger.com