TKC BREAKING NEWS!!! HACKERS BESIEGE KANSAS CITY AND THE TOY TRAIN STREETCAR COULD BE THE NEXT TARGET!!!
This weekend Kansas City institutions have found themselves at the mercy of hackers who are demonstrating some exceptional skill in taking down high value targets.
The latest big company takedown in Kansas City . . .
KMBC: Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Kansas City reports data breach
But not even the small fries are safe . . .
KCTV5: Several local Wendy's restaurants affected by hackers
And now the so-called "Smart City" is touting connectivity but as new threats emerge:
BBC: Are smart city transport systems vulnerable to hackers?
Money line . . .
Kansas City made a conscious decision to make as much data as possible public. However, that doesn't mean everything has to be stored in one location in cyberspace, says Tom Gerend, executive director at Kansas City Streetcar Authority and chairman of the Smart City Advisory Board.
"The cloud is used to store data from the Smart City installation [camera data, streetlights, and so on] but not for streetcar vehicle specific systems. Generally, we have separate services for the individual sub-systems and then aggregate and pool data that we want to make publicly accessible."
But Von Welch, director of Indiana University's Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research, says there will be a bumpy road ahead as transportation hardware manufacturers start incorporating security measures into their products, often for the first time.
The reality is that Internets security along the stoy train streetcar line has already been significantly challenged. Checkit:
KSHB: Kansas City's new 'Smart City' kiosk hacked to play solitaire
And so, while the rise in Kansas City crime is probably a more pressing threat to public transit ryders, let's not forget that Kansas City is now confronting hackers as well and more danger looms for the toy train line.
Developing . . .
the biggest threat along the streetcar line is to your car.
ReplyDeleteThat choo-choo comes blazing down main street at 40 miles and hour will take your door clean off if it's parked at a weird angle. forget about inside the line.
what a shame that we couldn't have invested more money in buses that could've served all of the city.
The Internet economy is coming to an end and we only have ourselves to blame for it. We're investing in big companies and middle managers not the people who can really help grow business and commerce in our communities. That's a problem and I wish city hall wasn't so impressed with these consultants and the start up game.
ReplyDeleteYou "could" be the next target, Tony.
ReplyDeleteThink about it.
We have.
^^^^ "we" is alone on a Saturday night reading blogs. TKC is really a low value target. Not much money to be had here while that streetcar is filled with riches mostly paid for by the public.
ReplyDeleteLet the streetcar be hacked. The tourist can get along without it for a weekend or two.
ReplyDeleteSeems like only yesterday you could see horseless carriages zipping up and down Main. Now a trolley! Lordy I can't keep up with all this progress, what's next!
ReplyDelete8:54 PM - What is next? I heard they might start using modern buses to move people on Main Street.
ReplyDelete^^^^^^^^^^Nah, seyz so right here: http://tonyskcstreetcar.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI heard their periods attracts bears. BEARS!
ReplyDelete