184
submitted 1 year ago by uis@lemmy.world to c/worldnews@lemmy.ml

Polish train manufacturer that lost servicing tender programmed train controller to brick itself after train stays for some time in 6 ISP facilities or in 1 their faculity(for testing?) until undocumented button combination is pressed. Some controller versions brick itself after train is idle for 10 days. After news about this became public, manufacturer removed ability to unlock train by button combination.

Also manufacturer is able to remotely brick train over internet(connected via GSM) at any time.

Full versions: Polish(original), Russian

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[-] teft@startrek.website 37 points 1 year ago

Sounds like Poland is going to have to nationalize a train manufacturer.

[-] regul@lemm.ee 17 points 1 year ago

A faction other than the right would have to form a government.

[-] Zippy@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

I would not take this as proof. A third party company was being penalized significant fees because they were not meeting their contractual requirements to keep the trains running. Newag completely denies it suggesting maintenance makes up only 5 percent of their revenue. Also stated was that they controls have no connection to the internet which is a likely design requirement. Negating some of the claims.

Not suggesting they are not at fault but it appears multiple companies have a stake in this. There likely is no digital fingerprint on the PLC software modifications so if some devious code is found, would be hard to show who did it and when. There is possibilities to check all trains and if for example no faulty code was found on trains that were never maintained by company xyz, then that may create some suspicion on a different company. If code found on every train...

I wouldn't discount anything. Even Newag.

[-] zerfuffle@lemmy.ml 9 points 1 year ago

State-owned enterprises look better every day...

[-] Kierunkowy74@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago
[-] ltxrtquq@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 year ago

I think that's the point: that a state-owned operation wouldn't brick their own products because they're afraid of losing money

[-] rxbudian@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 year ago
[-] uis@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago
[-] moistclump@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago
[-] aido@lemmy.world 17 points 1 year ago

To render something as useful/active as a brick

[-] moistclump@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

For a second there I thought it was putting a brick on the track to derail the train.

[-] uis@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Yes, but without derailing part

[-] uis@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago

To make impossible to use, unresponsive.

[-] Nyvios@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago
[-] pizza@lemmy.today 0 points 1 year ago
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this post was submitted on 06 Dec 2023
184 points (98.9% liked)

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