U.K. transportation officials and police are currently looking into a “cyber-security incident” that targeted the public Wi-Fi networks at major railway stations across the country. Passengers attempting to connect to the Wi-Fi at stations like Manchester Piccadilly, Birmingham New Street, and 11 terminals in London on Wednesday evening were confronted with a message stating “We love you, Europe,” alongside an anti-Islam message detailing a series of terrorist attacks.
Network Rail, the organization responsible for managing the stations, confirmed that the Wi-Fi access had been turned off and assured passengers that no personal data was compromised during the incident. They mentioned that the British Transport Police have launched an investigation into the matter, clarifying that the Wi-Fi service is provided through a third-party provider and has been suspended while the inquiry is ongoing.
This occurrence comes on the heels of a more severe cyberattack that transpired in early September, affecting Transport for London (TfL), which oversees the bus, subway, and suburban train network in the capital. In that incident, TfL divulged that certain customer information such as names, contact details, and potentially even bank account specifics were exposed. The National Crime Agency is actively investigating this breach.
In relation to the September cyberattack, a 17-year-old individual was detained in connection to the incident, although they were subsequently questioned and released on bail without being formally charged. As a consequence of the attack, TfL has encountered persistent challenges in providing certain online services including processing refunds and delivering real-time transit updates. The impact of the breach continues to impede the operation of the transportation company in fulfilling these digital services.
