Sharing knowledge in Twitter about how transport security systems operate is a bad idea.
Chris Roberts, of One World Labs in Denver, has learned that.
When a computer security expert from Denver tweeted some amusing remarks about hacking the onboard systems of his United Airlines flight, he didn’t know FBI agents would be waiting at his destination. Later, he was refused boarding to another flight.
On Wednesday, when Roberts flew from Denver to Syracuse, N.Y., after boarding, he posted a tweet about what he would do if he managed to hack the aircraft’s computers.
EICAS stands for “engine-indicating and crew-alerting system”, so Roberts actually pondered playing with the aircraft’s onboard communication system.
It was enough to get him acquainted with FBI agents, who were waiting for him in Syracuse. They questioned him for four hours.
Roberts was released after interrogation, but practically all his personal electronic equipment, including a MacBook Pro, an iPad, several hard drives and USB memory sticks, were confiscated. Roberts proved this by posting an FBI “receipt for Property Received.” The only electronic item Roberts was allowed to keep was his iPhone, Forbes.com reported.
A member of the security research community himself, Roberts expressed surprise with the pace of developments, though he should have known better that everything posted online is constantly monitored by numerous US security agencies.
After returning to Denver for a couple of days, Roberts headed for San Francisco on Saturday to take part in the RSA Conference 2015 cyber security summit.
In the airport, reportedly already after passing the gate, he was told by United Airlines staff he wouldn’t be allowed on board.
Since Roberts had made public statements about airfare equipment and aircraft systems manipulation, “That’s something we just can’t have,” said United Airlines spokesman Rahsaan Johnson, explaining this is not only a “violation of United’s policies” but “it’s not something we want our inflight crews and customers to deal with,” Johnson said.
Watch out what you tweet – or face the consequences!
