Hackers Can Remotely Trigger the Brakes on American Trains and the Problem Has Been Ignored for Years

A shocking discovery has been made about the vulnerability of America's rail network, leaving millions of passengers at risk. According to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and independent researcher Neil Smith, many trains in the U.S. are susceptible to a hack that can remotely lock a train's brakes, putting lives in jeopardy.

Smith first uncovered the vulnerability in 2012, but it has taken over a decade for the railroad industry to take action. The problem lies in the fact that the exploit can be triggered using radio frequencies, making it theoretically possible for hackers to manipulate the brakes of trains from anywhere in the world.

"All of the knowledge to generate the exploit already exists on the internet," Smith explained in an interview with 404 Media. "AI could even build it for you." However, despite this ease of creation, the physical distance required to exploit the vulnerability limits its potential impact, as hackers would need to be relatively close to the train to transmit a signal that can bypass security measures.

The implications of this discovery are severe and far-reaching. With millions of passengers relying on trains every day, the risk of a catastrophic failure is very real. The fact that the railroad industry has only recently begun to address this issue raises questions about how long it took for the problem to be recognized and what measures will be taken to ensure the safety of train passengers.

As the nation's rail network remains vulnerable to these sorts of attacks, concerns are growing among lawmakers and advocacy groups. The government has a responsibility to protect its citizens from such threats, but so far, it seems that this issue has been ignored for far too long.