The opening of a cyber security testing facility in Cheltenham is large enough to test cars, private planes, and aircraft engines.
The over 5,000 square foot (464 square meter) facility is located close to the UK intelligence agency GCHQ.
The organization that created it, IOActive, claims that it is the first privately-owned lab of its size in the entire world.
It can be used to assess how safe from cyber attack automobiles, aircraft, and industrial systems are.
The company used a cherry picker to maneuver inside the new facility at a launch event to demonstrate its size.
It thinks that the systems in use to manage industrial machinery might be susceptible to hacking.
When you add an intelligent interface, such as a remote control, you suddenly have complete remote control over this system, according to Ivan Reedman, Director of Secure Engineering at IOActive. Therefore, we need to ensure that the controller's interface with this device is safe and secure. If it was, just think of the harm a thing this size could cause. ".
In the past, the company has demonstrated its ability to hack into a car and shut off its engine while it was being driven down a US highway.
Despite this, they continue to believe that the cyber security sector is contributing to global safety. "Firms like ours have done a good job finding and fixing these vulnerabilities," Ivan Reedman continued. Personally, I don't worry too much. " .
The new building is a part of initiatives to establish a cyber park near GCHQ on the outskirts of Cheltenham.
The Cyber Park would be a location devoted to the growth of cyber-related businesses and educational institutions, supported by nearby health, housing, and recreational facilities, according to Gloucestershire County Council.
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