How Thieves Are Planning On Hacking Into Your Car


Is Your Do-Everything Monte Carlo ~>Vulnerable?

Posted: Jun 16, 2010




Securing your vehicle used to consist of making sure all the doors were locked, keeping valuable items hidden out of sight and parking it in a safe, preferably off-street location.
But a new generation of cars includes more tech wizardry than a jumbo jet, raising consumer concerns that vehicles are more vulnerable than ever to light-fingered criminals. In these times, however, those light fingers are more likely to be twiddling on a laptop or remote-entry system than sticking a wire clothes hanger through a cracked window.
A new study proves that the movement away from pure mechanization to digitization is exposing us to new opportunities for vulnerability. It's becoming increasingly easier to access all vehicles controls from one central location. The car's ECU, or electronic control unit, is the brain of your grocery getter. A team of researchers from The University of Washington in Seattle and The University of California San Diego recently took on the task of seeing if they could control a car's systems through its ECU.
The two lead researchers for the project tested two identical 2009 model year vehicles (they did not reveal the name of the car), plugging their laptops into the controls for the ECU and running a software system. Their findings show that there are two main hacking threats to you car:
WHAT

- Physical Access: "Someone -- such as a mechanic, a valet, a person who rents a car, an ex-friend, a disgruntled family member, or the car owner -- can, with even momentary access to the vehicle, insert a malicious component into a car’s internal network via the ubiquitous OBD-II port (typically under the dash). The attacker may leave the malicious component permanently attached to the car’s internal network or, as we show in this paper, they may use a brief period of connectivity to embed the malware within the car’s existing components and then disconnect."
- Wireless interfaces: "In our car we identified no fewer than five kinds of digital radio interfaces accepting outside input, some over only a short range and others over indefinite distance. While outside the scope of this paper, we wish to be clear that vulnerabilities in such services are not purely theoretical. We have developed the ability to remotely compromise key ECUs in our car via externally-facing vulnerabilities, amplify the impact of these remote compromises using the results in this paper, and ultimately monitor and control our car remotely over the Internet."
After running tests using software with their laptops plugged in, the researchers were able to disable braking systems, control main vehicle functions and even turn off the engine, all while the test vehicle was traveling at speed.
Security In Today's Cars
Cars' vital functions, including steering, brakes and startup largely run on a system of interconnected electronic control units that form the car's central nervous system. These units run on millions of lines of computer code. It's estimated that the average premium new car runs on about 100 million lines of computer code, while Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner requires just 6.5 million code to function.
Representatives from the Big Three told us, not surprisingly, that they are working hard to make sure security and privacy are paramount. All the while, consumer demand is creating something of a supercomputer in every vehicle.
Ford, GM and Chrysler all have introduced wireless internet systems that allow consumers to surf the internet while in or around the vehicle and download music and road-trip directions to an in-car computer. Most in-car wireless systems work in much the same way as a home-internet wireless connection and require a password to gain entry to the network, said Chrysler's Nick Cappa. This basic step, he says, prevents almost all security breaches of the car's wireless system.
Cappa says that the system offered by Mopar as an option on certain Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep models is independent of, and not integrated with, a car's central electronics systems, including its hard drive and the media library.
"Think of its as a picnic table you can use in the vehicle but you can also detach and use outside the vehicle," he said.
Similarly, when a new user wishes to log-in to Ford's wireless internet system the driver must give their permission for a connection to be established, which prevents "piggybacking," according to company spokespeople. A music-encryption system also prevents anybody from removing or copying tunes from the car's on-board library by wireless connection or by plugging the hardware into another car. Its route finder information can be locked from prying eyes by a four-digit PIN code (similar to an ATM card's) when needed. Ford also says the SecuriLock engine-start system only works with a designated key that sends a unique signal code to a transponder in the engine amid some 72-million-billion code configurations (which would severely challenge the most dexterous of hackers).
While your ride seems to be safe at the moment, the threat looms ahead. All the while, it never hurts to park your car off-street and tuck away your valuables, either.

 

After reading the above you may need a `Beer or something else to help you relax....
Below is another BONUS POST

Unusual Uses for Beer

by Mrs. FIXIT, Posted Jun 15th 2010 9:30AM

Getty Images

Who knew that a little brew could perform these convenient summertime tasks?

Partially full beer bottles are always a part of my barbecue clean-up routine. To avoid being wasteful, I dump them in the garden. Now, that might sound like an odd place to dump beer -- and you may be wondering what's so resourceful about pouring it in the dirt anyway. But the garden is actually the perfect spot for leftover beer. A good, old-fashioned brew has some other cool uses too.
Enrich Soil
Yeast is beneficial to plants, so pour a few tablespoons of flat beer into your garden to cultivate the soil. The yeast-filled soil will help plants grow healthier and make your garden flourish.
Corbis.`Don't Smoke the Plants or you'll might get a BeerBuZZ : )

Trap Bees
If bees are a problem in your yard, you can battle them with beer. Punch a series of 3/8-inch holes in the top of an old jar. Fill the jar with beer, screw the top in place and put it in the yard where you've seen bees. They'll be attracted to the beer and will be able to get into the jar -- but not out!
Banish Slugs
If slugs have infiltrated your garden and are munching away at your greenery, bury an empty tuna fish can next to your plants so that just the lip is sticking out. Fill the can with beer and check it in the morning; you should have caught some of those slimy suckers! All you have to do is empty the can each day. This little trick also works with earwigs.
Polish Wood Furniture
Got some leftover beer that's gone flat? Pour a little on a microfiber rag and rub it into your wood furniture to add a little shine and deepen the color.
Tenderize a T-Bone
Firing up the grill? If you find yourself with a tough cut of meat for a barbecue, marinate it for an hour or so in some beer. The beer will infuse the meat with flavor and tenderize it while it sits, so it will cook up nice and juicy.
Tip: If you spill a little beer on yourself, sponge it with equal parts of white vinegar and dish soap, and then flush it out with cool water.


Isn't it just Amaz'in the Stuff U can learn on the MCF lol

I know, it's a day early, but something to look 4ward `2 )
..I thought `Brent (Member:JrCar) would appreciate the above

 

nice, i will use the beer one!
as for thieves and vehicles. if you see a baby seat and blanket sitting on the side of the highway, DO NOT STOP. call the police, thieves and gangs will wait for an inocent woman to stop to check on it and will drag her to the woods/weeds nearby, beat and r8p3 her and leave her for dead. again, do not stop. another way they are doing this is by throwing eggs at your window. if this happends, DO NOT USE YOUR WIPERS. it will smear the eggs and make it so you have to pull over. just another way for thieves/gangs to get ahold of you. just keep driving and wipe them off at your well lighted gas station or at your home. also call the cops and inform them where it happened,
just a warning to READ

 

...WoW `Chris, It's sad that many have to live in `Fear
Thanks for your words/infor/advise/post/contributions : )

 

This is just one of the many reasons I advocate concealed carry. While some of these may be urban legend, it never hurts to be prepared to defend yourself or those you love.

 

Yes

`Amen