Repeat after me : it's safe to fly...it's safe to fly...it's safe to fly...
Congressional investigators identified significant security weaknesses in the nation's air traffic control information systems, weaknesses which threaten the systems' integrity, confidentiality, and availability.

In a 37-page report issued Monday, the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, also contends the Federal Aviation Administration systems contain weaknesses in controls that are designed to prevent, limit, and detect access to these systems.

The agency hasn't adequately managed its networks, software updates, user accounts and passwords, and user privileges, nor has it consistently logged security-relevant events, says the report, requested by House Government Reform Committee chairman Tom Davis, R-Va.
"Nevertheless, the proprietary features of these systems cannot fully protect them from attacks by disgruntled current or former employees who are familiar with these features, nor will they keep out more sophisticated hackers," writes Gregory Wilshusen, GAO information-security-issues director.
http://informationweek.com/story/sho...leID=171200771
InformationWeek > Air Security > Security Weaknesses Threaten Nation's Air Traffic Systems, GAO Says > September 26, 2005