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DEF CON dingus suspected of trying to take over Delta in-flight Wi-Fi
The Register • • business
Key Points:
- A passenger on a Delta Air Lines flight from Las Vegas to Atlanta after DEF CON is suspected of jamming the in-flight Wi-Fi and broadcasting an unauthorized network, potentially committing a federal offense.
- Flight crew reported the incident via ACARS messages, noting a fake Wi-Fi network named "DELTA WIFI FAST" was created, likely to scam other passengers, and attributed the disruption to attendees from a cyber conference in Las Vegas.
- Social media reports suggest the attack involved a deauthentication method to disconnect users from the legitimate network and redirect them to a fake landing page, possibly using devices like a Wi-Fi Pineapple; however, no law enforcement presence was confirmed at the gate.
- Delta confirmed the incident and is investigating in partnership with federal law enforcement, emphasizing that no aircraft systems were compromised and the safety of the flight was never threatened.
- If found guilty of intentional Wi-Fi interference, the passenger could face severe penalties under the Communications Act, including up to one year in prison and/or a $10,000 fine, with harsher sentences possible for repeat offenders.
