Newag

2025-01-29T22:05:31Z

WeSueResearchers: Developed the article (had to copy work from another window, hence the whole article is highlighted as new), added a lot of citations (perchance, a bit too many). Issues still to fix are: develop the article further, remove bias (include information about Newag's findings of interference in software from citation 21), include more diversity into the citations (I relied heavily on two presentations done by Dragon Sector on Chaos Computer Club conferences).

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'''Newag S.A.''' (pronounced ''"nevag"'') is a publicly traded<ref>https://www.gpw.pl/company-factsheet?isin=PLNEWAG00012</ref> Polish company based in Nowy Sącz that specializes in the production, maintenance, and modernization of railway rolling stock.<ref>https://www.newag.pl/en/company/history/</ref> Their most notable products include: the families of electric locomotives '''Griffin'''<ref>https://www.newag.pl/en/offer/griffin/</ref><ref>https://twojsacz.pl/kolejne-lokomotywy-griffin-z-nowego-sacza-trafily-do-pkp-intercity/</ref> and '''Dragon'''<ref>https://www.newag.pl/en/offer/dragon/</ref>, as well as the '''Impuls''' family of multiple units<ref>https://www.newag.pl/en/offer/impuls/</ref>.

==Anti-competitive practices==
In 2022, a regional Polish train operator commissioned a third-party repair service - '''SPS''' - to complete maintenance on '''Impuls''' trains<ref name=":0">https://badcyber.com/dieselgate-but-for-trains-some-heavyweight-hardware-hacking/</ref>. The repair service could not, however, bring the trains to move despite them being in working order. This, alongside accusations of '''"interfering with the trains' security systems"'''<ref>https://media.ccc.de/v/37c3-12142-breaking_drm_in_polish_trains#t=227</ref> by Newag caused a tarnishing of SPS's reputation<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXlYjgVpVIg</ref><ref name=":0" />. In 2023, however, a group of Polish cybersecurity experts from Dragon Sector<ref name=":0" /><ref>https://dragonsector.pl/</ref>, after being hired by SPS, disclosed findings that '''a number of lock-up mechanisms''' were placed in the trains' software<ref>https://media.ccc.de/v/38c3-we-ve-not-been-trained-for-this-life-after-the-newag-drm-disclosure#t=691</ref><ref>https://social.hackerspace.pl/@q3k/111528162462505087</ref><ref>https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/12/manufacturer-deliberately-bricked-trains-repaired-by-competitors-hackers-find/?utm_source=chatgpt.com</ref>. These allegedly include:

# '''A "lack of movement timer"''', which would disable the train after it has not moved for a set amount of time.<ref>https://media.ccc.de/v/37c3-12142-breaking_drm_in_polish_trains#t=1625</ref>
# '''Geofencing''' - the train would disable itself once it detects that it is in one of Newag's competitors' workshops.<ref>[https://media.ccc.de/v/37c3-12142-breaking_drm_in_polish_trains#t=1685 https://media.ccc.de/v/37c3-12142-breaking_drm_in_polish_trains#t=1713]</ref><ref name=":1">https://media.ccc.de/v/38c3-we-ve-not-been-trained-for-this-life-after-the-newag-drm-disclosure#t=1293</ref><ref>https://social.hackerspace.pl/@q3k/111528162462505087</ref>
# '''Serializing''' the CAN bus extension device of the train, disabling it if a change in the CAN's serial number is detected.<ref>https://media.ccc.de/v/37c3-12142-breaking_drm_in_polish_trains#t=1814</ref>
# '''A date check,''' which would cause the train to lock up if it was not serviced by '''Newag''' before the 21st of November 2022, claiming compressor failure.<ref name=":2">https://media.ccc.de/v/37c3-12142-breaking_drm_in_polish_trains#t=1891</ref>

The geofencing mechanism has later been shown to allegedly be the cause of disruptions on a connection serviced by Impuls trains, having them '''disable themselves when passing near one of the geofenced locations.'''<ref name=":1" /> The date check, meanwhile, was poorly implemented, and would only cause the train to be locked from 11/21 to 12/1 and from 12/21 to 1/1 each year after 2021.<ref name=":2" /><ref>https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/skandal-na-kolei-pociag-newagu-stanal-bo-znowu-nadszedl-21-grudnia/41mdspf?utm_source=www.qwant.com_viasg_wiadomosci&utm_medium=referal&utm_campaign=leo_automatic&srcc=undefined&utm_v=2</ref><ref name=":3">https://www.rynek-kolejowy.pl/wiadomosci/impuls-zepsul-sie-z-powodu-21-grudnia-mamy-stanowisko-newagu--116695.html</ref>

'''Newag''' firmly denies any claims of wrongdoing, releasing multiple statements<ref name=":3" /> claiming the findings of Dragon Sector, as well as reports from media outlets, are "slander" from their competition, "which is conducting an illegal campaign of black PR against us."<ref name=":4">https://www.railjournal.com/fleet/newag-comes-out-fighting-in-claims-over-foul-play/</ref> Newag claims they "have not, do not and will not introduce" any software locks.<ref name=":4" /> The statements also implied an attempt to "undermine Newag's market position".<ref name=":3" />

The investigation against '''Newag''' is still on-going.
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