Airbus commercial aircraft IT system suffers cyber breach

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus said it has detected a security breach that targeted its commercial aircraft business information systems, resulting in unauthorised access to employees’ personal data

In a press release, Airbus said its cybersecurity experts are investigating the incident to determine its impact and origins.

“This incident is being thoroughly investigated by Airbus’ experts who have taken immediate and appropriate actions to reinforce existing security measures,” the press release reads.

The company said it is unclear if the attack targeted any specific data, or if it was opportunistic, but that early indications suggest the professional contact and IT identification details of its employees in Europe were compromised.

Airbus has contacted regulatory and data protection authorities, as mandated by the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and has instructed employees to take precaution in case their date has been breached. It is understood that the attack has had no impact on Airbus’ commercial operations.

Airbus stock was up following the announcement

Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics and staffs around 130,000 employees. Apart from its commercial aircraft, it specialises in helicopters, defence, space and cybersecurity.

Last year in March rival manufacturer Boeing was the target of a WannaCry ransomware attack, but the impact on its systems was minor and production and deliveries weren’t affected.

Airbus has not responded to our request for more details. Techerati will update the article if Airbus responds.