An IT security company has discovered new IT security deficiencies at Ruag International, a company specializing in civil aerospace. According to CEO André Wall, these were “to be taken seriously”. He ordered several immediate measures. For example, patches were rolled out immediately and security monitoring was expanded, Wall said in an interview with NZZ. “In these areas, the risk was too great to wait even days or weeks.” He did not give any details about the security holes.
Other measures have been initiated or will be implemented in the next few weeks and months, Wall said. The subject is now a “top priority”. In 2016, a major cyber attack on the former Ruag became known, which brought serious deficiencies in IT to light.
Wall did not want to evaluate the fact that there were apparently further serious security gaps afterwards. “I can only look ahead,” he said. “A company must never feel safe because there are always people with a lot of criminal energy. Perhaps this awareness was insufficient. ” The company is now checking whether the person responsible for IT security will become a member of the management in the future.
Army not affected
According to Wall, the military sector was not in danger. “We have not found a way how someone from our systems could access the network of Ruag Switzerland or the army,” he said.
The reason for the investigation of IT at Ruag International by external experts was a TV report by SRF “Rundschau” from mid-May, according to which there should have been another hacker attack on the company. According to Wall, there was “no evidence” that a hack had actually occurred and that data was accessible or stolen.
After the cyber attack became known in 2016, the Federal Council decided to split up its arms company Ruag. A Swiss part with technical proximity to the armed forces and an international part should also make IT more secure. Ruag International, with its space division, ammunition division, aircraft structure construction and international military business, is also to be dismantled. The company wants to concentrate on the satellite business and is working with Elon Musk, as Blick made public. (SDA)