Car mania?

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It’s been widely reported that Fiat Chrysler finally had to admit that their cars could be hacked.  Which should surprise no one.   I’ve reported the same could be done with pacemakers.   And, I also discussed that the same gateway that makes cars vulnerable can be exploited on airplanes.

So, why wouldn’t cars be hackabale?  The airlines had the same response as did Fiat Chrysler.  “Not us”.   Of course, that was despite the fact that Senator Ed Markey already released a report in February detailing how these automobile devices are easily hacked.

The fact is the more we let our computer stuff access the world, the more the world can access our stuff.  It’s as simple as that. That is exactly the reason why the Pentagon used to segregate their important data from network access.

Markey report on car hacking

And, as Markey points out in his report, the wireless technology that our vehicles employ afford hackers almost 100% availability to every car on the road.  That means controlling the transmission, the brakes, the steering (a little less so)- even while the car is already in motion.

Moreover, as a rule of thumb, without telling you, the auto manufacturers track your geographical location, destinations entered into YOUR navigation system, and your vehicle speed.  (Many owners find this out when they are told their warranty is invalid, since they exceeded the recommended speeds for their vehicle.)

This doesn’t include the devices that some used car salesmen employ (and underhandedly so) to monitor the vehicles sold.  If you are late paying on the car, you can rest assured that the car will stay at rest.  Yup- they turn the vehicle off. No court hearing, no notice.  Just them virtually impounding your vehicle.

Look.  As I reported yesterday, folks like me have known that dashboard displays, air bags, lighting systems are on the same control units as are transmissions, engine cylinders, and even some steering units.  The language that cars use to control these things is some 3 decades old- and the manufacturers were positive only they would have access to its intricacies.   (Yes, that’s why they sue folks who make alternative chips– thinking it’s their proprietary system, when the language is old, easily deployed, and available to hobbyists to improve the performance of their cars.)

And, you (yes, you) have asked auto manufacturers to locate your cars, unlock them, or even start them remotely.  (Some of the manufacturers advertised these “benefits
on TV.)   And, you want your infotainment system to hook up with your favorite sites (I won’t name any- since I don’t partake) to enjoy the music you like.

Or, you could be smart and refuse to purchase OnStar.   (That’s one of the services that tracks your car, unlocks the doors, and starts it up for you-remotely.)

You can also use your smartphone to play music, instead of the car’s computer.  (Yes, I have geolocation turned off on my phone- which means some apps won’t work.   But, that also means I get to decide who sees my data- or never does.)   Because that means you are not  letting the “internet of things’ leave you at risk.

If you don’t opt out of these “benefits”, you may find your brakes locked up while tooling down the highway.

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