Wire Connected

Air travel just became even more stressful, as a recent government study reveals that the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) air-traffic control system faces significant threats from cyber-terrorists. According to the Wall Street Journal, the FAA plans to modernize its control systems over the next 15 years, thanks in part to $20 billion of funding, but the technological adaptations are apparently exposing vulnerabilities to hackers.

The FAA uses two technical support systems -- an administrative system, primarily used for corporate purposes, and an operational system, which is used for air-traffic control. Although FAA spokesperson Laura Brown told the WSJ that one network cannot be used to access the other, security tests revealed 763 "high risk" administrative weaknesses.