Hackers Attack Federal Aviation Administration Computers

Hackers installed a virus on the computer networks of the Federal Aviation Administration, following warnings that air traffic control is vulnerable.

A plane takes off past the control tower at San Francisco International Airport on February 25, 2013 in San Francisco, California. Computers of the Federal Aviation Administration were recently attacked by hackers. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently reported that its computer systems were attacked by unknown hackers in February. The attack follows a January report expressing concern that the FAA’s air traffic control systems are vulnerable to cyberattacks.

The announcement, which was stuffed in the middle of an interim award notice posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website, was so subtle that it went largely unnoticed.

It stated simply, “Due to a recent cyberattack, the FAA requires additional planning time to determine the impact to the competitive procurement’s requirements.”

The FAA did not immediately respond to a phone call or voice message requesting comment.

Nextgov was the first outlet to catch wind of the announcement. After inquiring about the cyberattack, it reported on April 6 that the FAA discovered “a known virus,” which spread through email on “its administrative computer system.”

The cyberattack allegedly caused no damage to the computer systems. After it was discovered, the FAA blocked the attack, contained the virus, and cleaned the affected computers.

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