Passengers at 19 railway stations in the UK were shocked to see messages about terrorist attacks when connecting to the public Wi-Fi. This unsettling incident was a result of a hacker attack on the internal account of the Internet provider, as reported by BBC News.
The messages appeared on the screens of users connecting to the Wi-Fi network controlled by Network Rail, which is supported by the TELENT contractor and provided by Global Reach Technology.
According to TELENT, the cyber attack was an act of cyberdalism on the Global Reach network and not a result of network security issues or technical failures. TELENT, in collaboration with Network Rail, Global Reach, and the transport police, is actively working to address the problem and aims to restore Wi-Fi services by the end of the week.
One affected user described witnessing messages detailing terrorist attacks in the UK and Europe accompanied by news reports’ photos upon connecting to Wi-Fi at a station, causing panic and concern among travelers.
Network Rail confirmed the cyber attack and warned that it could potentially affect other organizations beyond railway stations. As a precaution, Wi-Fi services have been temporarily suspended pending further investigation.
The British transport police have arrested an employee of Global Reach Technology under suspicion of involvement in the attack. The individual is accused of “abuse of access” to Wi-Fi services at various stations, although specific details about the suspect remain undisclosed.
TELENT explained that the hacking incident occurred due to an unauthorized alteration of the target page via an administrator account. Fortunately, the British transport police affirmed that passenger personal data was unlikely to have been compromised.
In a similar incident in September, a 17-year-old teenager was arrested in connection with a cyber attack on the Transport for London (TFL) system on September 1. This arrest, carried out in Walsall on September 5, was part of an investigation into the cyber threat posed to London’s transport infrastructure.