FBI Warning: Scattered Spider Hackers Are Targeting Airlines, Too

Scattered Spider hackers are now targeting airlines with advanced social engineering tactics to bypass MFA and breach critical systems, the FBI warns.

The FBI has issued a public advisory warning about a rising wave of cyberattacks targeting the airline sector: The notorious hacking group known as Scattered Spider is expanding its focus beyond its previous victims in retail and insurance. These attackers, the agency said, are increasingly using social engineering tactics to manipulate IT help desks to grant unauthorized access to internal systems.

According to the FBI, the hackers often convince help desk staff to bypass multi-factor authentication (MFA) protections by registering rogue MFA devices on compromised accounts. Once inside, the hackers move quickly — stealing data, demanding ransom, and in some cases, deploying ransomware to cripple operations.

Cybersecurity experts say the group’s success is tied to its deep understanding of human behavior within corporate systems. “This group is carrying ...