NATIONAL PHD IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Thesis title: On the Cyber Security Analysis of Computerized Transportation Systems

This thesis investigates cybersecurity challenges and vulnerabilities in modern computerized transportation systems, with a particular focus on maritime and aviation domains. As transportation systems become increasingly digitized and interconnected, they face growing cybersecurity risks that could compromise safety and operations. Through extensive research and experimentation using purpose-built testbeds, this work makes several key contributions to understanding and addressing these challenges. First, this thesis presents novel testing methodologies and specialized environments designed to enable thorough security evaluation of transportation systems' unique technologies and protocols. Second, this thesis uncovers 12 previously undiscovered vulnerabilities in transportation systems. Notable findings include attacks against maritime automation and radar systems, autonomous ship collision avoidance systems, and aviation collision avoidance systems. Third, it proposes and evaluates various remediation strategies, including detection systems for radar anomalies, improved training frameworks for maritime security operations centers, and optimized protocols for ship-to-shore communications.