FlightDeck

DELTA FLIGHT 591 CARRYING PASSENGERS FROM DEF CON 34 IN LAS VEGAS HIT BY SUSPECTED WI-FI ATTACK MID AIR. Delta Flight 591 from Las Vegas to Atlanta reportedly encountered a suspected Wi-Fi attack involving passengers returning from DEF CON 34, which concluded in Las Vegas on August 9. According to an ACARS message sent by the crew, passengers were able to jam the aircraft’s Wi-Fi and broadcast a rogue network called “Delta WiFi Fast.” “WE HAVE A BUNCH OF PAX THAT WERE AT A CYBER CONFERENCE IN LAS… THEY WERE ABLE TO JAM OUR WIFI AND BROADCAST THEIR SIGNAL.” A second message alerted corporate security: “WE HAVE A PAX ON THIS HAS CREATED A SCAM WIFI CALLED DELTA WIFI FAST. WE BELIEVE THEY ARE TRYING TO SCAM THE OTHER PAX.” The technique involves a malicious device impersonating a legitimate Wi-Fi network and attempting to trick users into connecting to it. Once connected, victims can potentially be directed to fraudulent login pages designed to capture credentials or other sensitive information. After the aircraft arrived at ATL and parked at Gate A18, authorities reportedly boarded the aircraft and questioned passengers while investigating the suspected rogue network and the equipment used to broadcast it. Some of the passengers had just returned from DEF CON, one of the world’s largest cybersecurity conferences. The investigation will determine exactly what happened.