College student hacks Taiwan high-speed rail line with software defined radios, stopping four trains — 19 years without crypto key rotation ends in predictable result as hacker sails through 7 layers of protection

A 23-year-old Taiwanese student hacked the high-speed rail line using Software-Defined Radio, causing four trains to stop for 48 minutes by triggering a false alarm due to outdated cryptographic keys. The student bypassed seven layers of security, leading to his arrest after an investigation traced the incident back to his home. The incident raised concerns about the system's weak security and prompted a review of all radio systems involved. The student claimed it was an accidental press of a button but could face up to 10 years in prison for his actions. Taiwan encourages civil hacking but expects ethical disclosure of vulnerabilities.