The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the new airline produced by Boeing Commercial Airlines, may put the lives of an important number of people at risk, as it might contain a serious security vulnerability in the onboard computer network, Wired reported a few days ago citing officials of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. The problem may be caused by the connection between the server computer that provides passengers Internet access and the onboard computer used for communication and navigation, the FAA mentioned in a statement.

"The proposed architecture of the 787 is different from that of existing production (and retrofitted) airplanes. It allows new kinds of passenger connectivity to previously isolated data networks connected to systems that perform functions required for the safe operation of
the airplane", it is mentioned in the statement published by the folks at cryptome.org.

"Because of this new passenger connectivity, the proposed data network design and integration may result in security vulnerabilities from intentional or unintentional corruption of data and systems critical to the safety and maintenance of the airplane. The existing regulations and guidance material did not anticipate this type of system architecture or electronic access to aircraft systems that provide flight critical functions."

Boeing spokeswoman Lori Gunter told Wired that the company would conduct a series of tests in order to find out whether a potential implementation of software firewalls or other security measures could be useful. The first tests will be conducted in March, when the first aircraft will be ready, Wired added.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is able to carry between 210 and 330 passengers and is scheduled to become available in November 2008. Boeing stated that approximately 800 aircraft have already been ordered, so better security measure are almost a must have. However, the FAA requires Boeing to demonstrate that its 787 is safer before the aircrafts enter service, as the same source mentioned above added.