Hackers gain access to car systems...

This sort of attack requires physical access to the car and its electronic devices. Most people reading this headline are going to assume it's some sort of remote takeover, such as what you find on a home computer, which it isn't.

Being able to hack an ECU by connecting directly to it isn't any more scary than being able to cut brake lines. Without physical security, you are at the mercy of anyone that wants to mess with your stuff.

Tom

 

They speculated that it MIGHT be possible via Bluetooth, but that has a range of about 10 feet, so they still need to be RIGHT at your car while it is on.

 

Buaaahhhhhhaaaaa!!!!


Too late! We've taken over the world!

Your only defense:


Paging Citizen Kane! Paging Citizen Kane!

Bob Wilson

 

Don't be silly. That aluminum hat isn't nearly big enough! If you're going to demonstrate, at least use an "effective" shield!

 

This, of course, depends on what is attached to the Bluetooth network. If something isn't attached to anything connected to the outside world, it is going to be very hard to hack into it. Possible, perhaps, by inducing signals with EM waves, but not very likely. This is the reason that truly secure computer systems are not attached to the Internet.

Once manufacturers start updating automotive systems remotely this risk will become much more significant.

Tom

 

Since there isn't even a showing this has happened to a prius I vote this thread relegated into the 'other cars' fourm ... not worthy of being on par with our smug-mobiles.

 

That is why I thought that making upgrades an 'administrator' function, requiring the Toyota PC hardware would be wise. WiFi updating of your car on the fly will be error prone and insecure.

Some will claim this is a trick to get traffic at the dealership, I think it will be safer by orders of magnitude.

 

OK, I'm of a mind to not get overly concerned about having my car
virtually car-jacked or rendered unusable. Well, not just yet.

But what about cars with Onstar or some other proprietary real-time
system that locks/unlocks doors, flashes lights, starts/stops the engine?

Seems like all the pieces would be in place for a wireless entry point.

Most probably it would be a Federal offense, but the FCC/NHTSA would
have to catch the perp... triangulation on a mobile transmitter?

I've read that the "future of the car" includes being wi-fi connected
full time as part of something involving computing via "the cloud."
Then what?

Boycott OnStar!: Automobile Surveillance and Evesdropping

 

Hello, hello, hello!

My thermistor hack successfully worked on my 2003 Prius. It fooled the control computers into letting the car enter hybrid mode a full 3 minutes before the actual engine temperature reached 70C. <GRINS>

But ok, since it is kinda of a Fred's House sort of discussion. . . .

Bob Wilson

 

If Microsoft made cars they would use "on the fly" updates.

Tom

 

I don't understand the article... If you don state the attack vector, then you have to assume it means physical access, which is about as meaningful as saying that your car can be attacked with a key, a rock, another car, a pair of pliers...