Car hackers can kill brakes, engine, and more

[The Straight Story]

Car hackers can kill brakes, engine, and more

IDG News Service - University researchers have taken a close look at the computer systems used to run today's cars and discovered new ways to hack into them, sometimes with frightening results.

In a paper set to be presented at a security conference in Oakland, California, next week, the security researchers say that by connecting to a standard diagnostic computer port included in late-model cars, they were able to do some nasty things, such as turning off the brakes, changing the speedometer reading, blasting hot air or music on the radio, and locking passengers in the car.

In a late 2009 demonstration at a decommissioned airfield in Blaine Washington, they hacked into a test car's electronic braking system and prevented a test driver from braking a moving car -- no matter how hard he pressed on the brakes. In other tests, they were able to kill the engine, falsify the speedometer reading, and automatically lock the car's brakes unevenly, a maneuver that could destabilize the car traveling high speeds. They ran their test by plugging a laptop into the car's diagnostic system and then controlling that computer wirelessly, from a laptop in a vehicle riding next to the car.

The point of the research isn't to scare a nation of drivers, already made nervous by stories of software glitches, faulty brakes and massive automotive recalls. It's to warn the car industry that it needs to keep security in mind as it develops more sophisticated automotive computer systems.


http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9176778/Car_hackers_can_kill_brakes_engine_and_more

[Duer 157099]

1. OK, I get the point of this

But it's hard to not imagine the scary scenario of someone doing this to someone elses' car, but would you drive along side of a car that you are about to screw with? I wouldn't. Unless that is also controlled remotely, perhaps by a helicopter.

[yella_dawg]

4. On non-GM vehicles this is more like the old crime-drama trick of cutting brake lines.

You need physical access to the car. With onStar, you only need a cell phone.

[yella_dawg]

2. Been waiting for this.

With onStar, you don't even need access to the vehicle. Cheery thought.

[aquart]

3. A soap opera used that last week.

Stopped a car by hacking.

What an interesting tool for terrorism.

[Poll_Blind]

5. I guess preferred method of Wellstoning will move from small planes to..

..automobiles now, not to mention everything in between. Do I seriously believe Paul Wellstone was murdered? No, probably not.

PB

[damntexdem]

6. And no manual locks, no key to open doors.

Rather worrisome, this.

[Lionessa]

7. Yes but that was 2009, think how far cellphone internet has become

in just the past two years, and the range is then much farther than next to the vehicle as indicated in the article. Also smaller is more easily not noticed, compared to the laptops mentioned.

[Strelnikov_]

8. Thats it. My next car will be a Galactica n/t

[truedelphi]

9. One other thing - we already have people texting, scrolling, and talking

On their iPhones while driving.

Researchers who have studied the human brain know that the impact of using these devices while driving means your driving is impaired.

But now, every other car commercial on TV shows you that if you buy the right make and model, you don't even need to drive! The car drives itself.

It will park itself, it will stop if an object is in front of it, etc.

Between what the hackers can do, and what the technology that is available to keep younger drivers totally distracted, I find it terrifying to be out in my car.

[kelly1mm]

10. Say what you want about polution, but the computers in cars are why

I drive OLD cars. Primarily because a passable shade tree mechanic (me) can't really fix the new cars as you need $$$$diagnostic tools just to find out which sensor is bad. But this is yet another reason. I will keep driving my old Alfa Romeos, and Ford pickups!

[NightWatcher]

11. good luck hacking my old POS f-150 pickemup truck

unless you've got a coat hanger. that's the only "hack" that'll work on my truck