D.C. Metro Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks

D.C. Metro Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks

The inspector general believes D.C.'s transportation system is at a higher risk of cybersecurity attacks.

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Inspector General Geoff Cherrington said in an interview on Monday that Washington D.C.'s transportation system is at a higher risk of cybersecurity attacks.

"Any transportation system in any city can be vulnerable, but in particular in D.C., as you know, there's a lot of targets," Cherrington told The Hill. "Anytime that any part of a network is attached to anything, particularly a rail car, and can be controlled outside of the WMATA system, it could be potentially a threat."

The state-owned China Railway Rolling Stock Corps (CRRC) involvement in the U.S. train industry has raised concerns over potential cyber attacks from China. 

The Washington Post reported this month that some experts have warned that China could use transit rail cars to carry out cyber espionage, though the newspaper said CRRC called that "ludicrous."

The CRRC has made inroads in the U.S. freight rail industry in recent years by producing rail cars for transit systems in cities like Los Angeles and Chicago.

The Metro has vowed to hire additional cybersecurity personnel to ensure that proper procedures and precautions are put in place to deal with cybersecurity.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Until We Meet Again

    A short three years ago we were all pondering whether to attend any tradeshows all thanks to COVID-19. Sorry to bring that nightmare up again, but it seems that little pandemic is in the rear-view mirror, and it’s time to meet again. Read Now

    • ISC West
  • Cyber Hygiene: What it Looks Like for IoT Devices

    Cyber Hygiene: What it Looks Like for IoT Devices

    For our second pillar about the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Pillars of Security, we are going to discuss what cyber hygiene looks like for IoT devices. Read Now

  • ISC West Announces 2023 Keynote Series Speaker Lineup

    The International Security Conference (ISC), in collaboration with premier sponsor Security Industry Association (SIA), announced five of this year’s ISC West Keynote Series speakers. ISC West will kick off its annual conference on March 28 (SIA Education@ISC: March 28-30 | Exhibit Hall: March 29-31) at the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. Read Now

    • ISC West
  • Accelerating Security Modernization

    In recent years, the term “digital transformation” has been one of the most frequently used buzzwords across industries. On its most basic level, it refers to the reimagining of how an organization leverages its technology systems to improve business processes. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

New Products

  • Dinkle DKU Barrier Terminal Blocks

    Dinkle DKU Barrier Terminal Blocks

    New DKU screw type terminal blocks use a spring-guided system where the screws are integrated and captive within the terminal enclosure. These screws can be backed out so that ring- or U-shaped cable lugs can be inserted, without the possibility of losing the screw. 3

  • Pivot3 Surety

    Pivot3 Surety

    Pivot3 has announced Surety, a new intelligent software framework to simplify the management and monitoring of physical security environments. 3

  • Paxton10 CORE Cameras

    Paxton10 CORE Cameras

    The new CORE Series cameras feature edge processing for ultimate scalability, built-in edge storage, and plug-and-play installation. The addition of the CORE Series gives installers new hardware, better choice, and more value than ever before. 3