TR Forums

Came across this today and found it a interesting read. Thought I would share it here.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2013/07/24/hackers-reveal-nasty-new-car-attacks-with-me-behind-the-wheel-video/

Rather frightening to think some one could take control of your car and tell it to do anything like lock the breaks up, steer into a wall going 80 mph. While this test was done in car it has already been proven possible to do it remotely as the article explains about half way through. Looks like things that were considered selling features to a new car can be used against the driver. OnStar, Bluetooth, an android application on a cell phone synced to the car, and even a audio file on a CD in the car’s stereo system can be used to take control of your cars systems.

It would take such an integrated system that we just aren't there yet. Shoot, the CEL/SES computer isn't linked to the ABS system. It would need a completely networked/integrated control system for vehicles. We aren't there yet.

TheEmrys wrote:

It would take such an integrated system that we just aren't there yet. Shoot, the CEL/SES computer isn't linked to the ABS system. It would need a completely networked/integrated control system for vehicles. We aren't there yet.

My 2011 Infiniti is. It has a single CAN bus that links all the onboard computers. If you can get mileage information on your nav/entertainment unit, odds are good that it is hooked into the same network as the rest of the management computers. That is not to say that my car is set up to let the infotainment computer send commands to the ABS controller, but theoretically it can. I was pretty surprised when I started browsing the service manuals and found that the critical systems shared the same network with information/entertainment/environmental.

--SS

TheEmrys wrote:

It would take such an integrated system that we just aren't there yet. Shoot, the CEL/SES computer isn't linked to the ABS system. It would need a completely networked/integrated control system for vehicles. We aren't there yet.

It depends on the car... in something like a Prius, essentially everything is tied to the computer. Including the brakes, the power steering, and the throttle.

Makes you wonder about Michael Hastings, doesn't it? Declares he has a new story on tv, car runs into tree. Story disappears, nobody questions anything, except for a friend and a few family members.

TheEmrys wrote:

We aren't there yet.

Oh yes we are! Take a look at some of the latest BMW and Mercedes models, especially the ones with electric power steering - some have available options such as "active lane keeping assist" (each manufacturer names it differently) which can automatically "steer" the car if it starts to "drift" out of its lane, or "active parking assist" which basically steers your car into parking spot semi-automatically, or systems which automatically brake the car if they sense an imminent collision. All of these are controlled from single ECU and some of these features are available (as an option) even on cheapest models (like the new BMW 3-series).
Of course you can't control or hack these systems from any wireless device yet (the current Mercedes Mbrace or BMW Assist systems are incapable of sending the commands to car's steering/throttle/brake subsystems) but if the car manufacturers will continue to blindly add in more automation systems - it may be a very near possibility.

....Just about every late model Chrysler product is there.

Anything with CANBUS electronics is, which is just about every new car these days.

Except you can't access any of that stuff wirelessly, unless you happen to leave your ELM27 OBDII to bluetooth adaptor in your OBDII port while you're driving it.

Which would be nobody.