Polish Hackers Fix Sabotaged Trains, Face Lawsuits from Railway Giant Newag

A Polish hacking group, Dragon Sector, was hired to fix software issues in trains operated by Newag, one of the oldest railway companies in Poland. The hackers claim to have discovered deliberate interference by Newag in the software, causing forced failures preventing the trains from starting. Newag denies the allegations, labeling them as slander and part of an illegal black PR campaign by competitors. After the hackers successfully repaired the trains, Newag demanded their removal, citing concerns about safety.

The situation highlights the controversial practice of “bricking” products to maintain control over repairs and revenue streams. The use of Digital Rights Management (DRM) is criticized by right-to-repair advocates as inhibiting independent repairs and forcing customers to rely on the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Newag plans to file lawsuits against the hackers and the repair company that hired them.