A 23-year-old Taiwanese university student was arrested after allegedly using software-defined radio and handheld radios to transmit a forged high-priority “General Alarm” on the TETRA network, stopping four Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) trains for 48 minutes. Authorities say the attacker decoded and reused long-standing TETRA parameters with help from an accomplice, bypassed multiple verification layers, and now faces charges under Article 184 while police seized SDR equipment and radios. #TETRA #THSR
Keypoints
- Student used SDR and handheld radios to send a fake “General Alarm” that triggered emergency braking.
- Four THSR trains were halted for 48 minutes on April 5.
- Attacker intercepted and decoded TETRA parameters that had not been rotated for 19 years, bypassing verification layers.
- An alleged accomplice supplied critical THSR parameters and police seized 11 handheld radios, an SDR, and a laptop.
- Suspect faces up to 10 years under Article 184 and was released on NT$100,000 bail amid criticism of system negligence.