Bangladeshi airports placed on highest alert following global cyberattacks

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has issued the highest security alert at all international and domestic airports across the country, following a series of recent cyberattacks on major airports including London’s Heathrow, Brussels in Belgium, and Berlin in Germany, reports the Daily Sun.

The decision, confirmed by a senior CAAB official on Thursday, was made to ensure uninterrupted air transport operations and prevent potential cyber threats targeting Bangladesh’s aviation network.

A directive, signed by Air Commodore Abu Sayeed Mehboob Khan, CAAB’s member (Planning and Operations), was sent to the heads of all airports and senior officials of the aviation authority, outlining 10 specific precautionary measures.

The instructions urge all relevant personnel to remain vigilant and adopt strong cybersecurity practices. These include using complex passwords, avoiding suspicious emails or unknown links, keeping operating systems, software, and antivirus programmes regularly updated, refraining from using pirated software, and not installing personal apps on official devices.

Additionally, all systems are required to implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to enhance security. Any suspected cyber incidents must be immediately reported to CAAB’s Cyber Emergency Response Team (CAAB-CERT), the IT department, and the National Cyber Incident Response Team.

CAAB sources said that the move follows an internal meeting held on 15 September at its headquarters, where officials discussed potential cyberattack risks and preventive measures.

During the meeting, officials noted that several London airports had to temporarily suspend operations due to cyber intrusions. As a precautionary measure, Bangladesh has now tightened its digital and operational defenses.

The meeting also revealed that CAAB’s own website had recently faced a cyberattack, prompting the National Cyber Security Agency to recommend an urgent risk assessment.

In response, CAAB is considering hiring an experienced cybersecurity firm to conduct a comprehensive review of its digital infrastructure and strengthen its cyber defense mechanisms.