"Officials from the city of Innsbruck in Austria have shut down a local ski lift after two security researchers found its control panel open wide on the Internet, and allowing anyone to take control of the ski lift's operational settings...."

https://www.bleepingcomputer.c...pen-on-the-internet/

If its plugged to the internet, it's hackable. I can't remember the number off the top of my head, but the number of devices that still use the default administrator password is staggering.

Why would a ski left EVER need to be connected to the net?

quote:

Originally posted by Skull Leader:
Why would a ski left EVER need to be connected to the net?

I'm assuming the system is relative new, meaning that it is run off of a computer. The system therefore can receive software updates from the manufacturer. It's much more practical to update said software remotely rather than having to send over a tech with a laptop to the lift's location.

quote:

Originally posted by Skull Leader:
Why would a ski left EVER need to be connected to the net?

They can also probably monitor it remotely through an admin console.

Operational performance, safety criteria and maintenance / repair needs can be monitored by the manufacturer.

The entire ski lift has sensors on just about every component up and down its loop and provides feedback on it's operation. Based on the information, the operator (and remote lift ops) can make adjustments, schedule regular or preventative maintenance, or be alerted to something about to break which can have dire and possibly deadly consequences.
__________