Hackers are increasingly targeting airlines, according to a new report. Netscout, a provider of application and network performance management solutions, found that cyberattacks against airlines rose dramatically between 2017 and 2018.
“Cybercriminals have traditionally concentrated attacks on internet service providers, telecoms, and cable operators,” Hardik Modi, senior director for threat intelligence at Netscout, told Forbes. “While those categories still represent prime targets, they are now relatively well protected.”
Modi explained that airlines are attractive targets because disruptions to air travel are immediately visible and often provoke a strong public reaction. “We’re all used to seeing images of grounded flights on the evening news, while delayed passengers make their frustrations known over social media channels,” he said.
Not every incident leads to stranded passengers; many attacks have more subtle but still harmful effects. For example, an airline’s website or booking system may slow down or behave unpredictably, degrading customer experience and operational efficiency.
“While full-blown and sustained outages are typically what get the most widespread attention, there are also significant consequences to many DDoS [Distributed Denial-of-Service] attacks that don’t gain the same kind of public and media visibility,” Modi noted.
Experts are still examining the motives behind the increase in attacks on airlines. Modi suggested several reasons: airlines rely heavily on complex computer networks for customer-facing services like reservations and customer support, as well as extensive back-office systems that coordinate with multiple partners across the aviation sector. This wide attack surface gives cybercriminals numerous potential entry points and objectives, from disrupting passenger services to interfering with operational processes.
In short, the growing number of attacks reflects both the evolving focus of cybercriminals and the critical role that networked IT systems play in modern aviation. As airlines and their partners work to strengthen defenses, the industry must remain vigilant against both high-profile outages and the quieter, equally damaging incidents that can undermine trust and efficiency.