A cyber attack has disrupted public wifi services at major railway stations across the United Kingdom. Train stations such as Manchester Piccadilly, Birmingham New Street, and 11 stations in London were affected by the attack. Passengers trying to access the wifi were greeted with messages about terrorism incidents in Europe, causing alarm and confusion among commuters, as reported by the Manchester Evening News.
The messages displayed on the hacked wifi webpage included statements like “We love you, Europe” along with details about terror attacks. Network Rail, the organization responsible for managing these stations, has taken a precautionary measure by suspending wifi services at stations nationwide following what they have termed a “cyber security incident.” Notably, St Pancras station, also managed by Network Rail, was the only one not impacted by the attack.
A spokesperson from Network Rail addressed the situation, stating: “We are currently dealing with a cyber security incident affecting the public wifi at Network Rail’s managed stations. British Transport Police are investigating the incident. This service is provided via a third party and has been suspended while an investigation is under way.”
The disruption in wifi services has raised concerns about cybersecurity and the vulnerability of public networks to cyber threats. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of robust cybersecurity measures to protect critical infrastructure and ensure the safety and security of commuters using public transportation. Authorities are working to investigate the attack further and restore normal wifi services as soon as possible.