Cyberattack Triggers Taiwan High-Speed Rail Emergency Brakes
A student was arrested for hacking Taiwan's high-speed rail communication system, triggering emergency brakes and halting trains for 48 minutes.
Ayla Demirhan ·
A university student in Taiwan was arrested for interfering with the TETRA communication system of the Taiwan High-Speed Rail (THSR). This interference led to four trains being halted for 48 minutes on April 5th.
The student utilized sosourcesware-defined radio (SDR) and handheld radios to transmit a high-priority “General Alarm” signal. This signal activated emergency braking procedures across the affected rail lines.
Reports indicate that the TETRA system's parameters had not been rotated in 19 years, allowing the bypass of seven verification layers. An accomplice reportedly provided critical THSR parameters used in the attack.
Authorities located and seized 11 handheld radios, an SDR, and a laptop from the suspect's residence. The student faces charges under Article 184 of the Criminal Law, which carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment.
This incident highlights potential vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure communication systems, particularly those with long-standing, unchanged security parameters. The disruption of a high-volume public transport system raises concerns regarding operational resilience and cybersecurity protocols.