Norway's Bus Hacking Scare: Chinese-Made Electric Buses Can Be Shut Down Remotely

Transport operator Ruter announced last week that it will introduce stricter security requirements and step up anti-hacking measures after a test on new Chinese-made electric buses showed the manufacturer could remotely turn them off. The test results, published last week, revealed that Chinese bus maker Yutong Group had access to their control systems for software updates and diagnostics. In theory, this could be exploited to affect the bus, according to Ruter. The tests, conducted in underground mines to strip away external signals, were done on both brand-new Yutong buses and on three-year-old vehicles from Dutch bus manufacturer VDL. Ruter stated that the tests showed the Chinese-made buses were vulnerable to remote control, while the Dutch buses were not. "This is a wake-up call for the entire industry," said a spokesperson for Ruter. "We need to take a closer look at the security of our buses and make sure we're doing everything we can to protect our passengers and drivers." The Norwegian public transport operator's decision to step up security measures comes as the country's transportation sector is increasingly reliant on electric buses. Ruter operates a fleet of over 1,000 buses, with many of them being Chinese-made. The company's move is seen as a precautionary measure, given the potential risks associated with remote control of buses. Industry experts say that the vulnerability of the Chinese-made buses is not unique to Ruter or Norway. "This is a global issue that affects many countries and many manufacturers," said a cybersecurity expert. "The fact that Yutong Group had access to the control systems of their buses is a concern that needs to be addressed." The test results have also raised questions about the safety and security of buses in other countries. In Norway, the government has announced plans to review the security of its public transportation system. "We take the safety and security of our citizens very seriously," said a government spokesperson. "We will be working closely with Ruter and other transportation operators to ensure that our buses are secure and safe." Ruter has not announced any plans to remove the Chinese-made buses from its fleet, but the company has said that it will be working closely with Yutong Group to address the security concerns. The company has also promised to provide regular updates on its efforts to improve the security of its buses.