Taiwanese student arrested for halting high-speed trains with radio hack

Per Bleeping Computer, a university student in Taiwan has been arrested for allegedly disrupting the high-speed railway network by transmitting a false emergency signal. The incident, which occurred on April 5, caused four trains to halt for approximately 48 minutes.

The 23-year-old student, identified by his surname Lin, is accused of using software-defined radio (SDR) equipment and handheld radios to broadcast a high-priority "General Alarm" signal. This signal triggered the emergency braking system of the Taiwan High-Speed Rail (THSR). Reports indicate that Lin intercepted and decoded TETRA communication parameters, which had reportedly not been rotated in 19 years, allowing him to bypass multiple security layers. An alleged 21-year-old accomplice provided crucial THSR parameters for the attack.

Following the incident, THSR's investigation of network logs led authorities to Lin's residence, where they seized communication equipment. Lin faces charges under Taiwan's Criminal Law, with potential imprisonment of up to 10 years. He is currently out on bail, and his lawyer claims the transmission was accidental, a statement authorities find unconvincing. The breach has led to criticism of negligence from Taiwanese politicians.

Source: Bleeping Computer