Following recent cyberattacks at Heathrow (London), Brussels, and Berlin airports, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has issued directives to strengthen cybersecurity at all international and domestic airports in the country.
A letter signed by CAAB Member (Planning & Operations) Air Commodore Abu Saeed Mehbub outlines 10 specific security guidelines. These include using strong passwords, avoiding suspicious emails or links, keeping software and antivirus programs up to date, refraining from using pirated software, not installing personal apps on official devices, and implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA).
The letter also instructs airport personnel to immediately report any cybersecurity-related issues to the CAAB CERT team, the IT department, and the National Cyber Incident Response Team.
Sources at CAAB revealed that a detailed meeting on cybersecurity risks and preventive measures was held at the authority’s headquarters on September 15. During the meeting, officials noted that some airports in London had to suspend flight operations due to cyberattacks, prompting preemptive measures in Bangladesh.
It was also mentioned that CAAB’s website recently experienced a cyberattack, and following advice from the National Cyber Security Agency, the authority is considering appointing an experienced firm to assess and mitigate cybersecurity risks urgently.