Researchers at the University of Washington and University of California-San Diego have examined the multitudinous computer systems that run modern cars, discovering that they're easily broken into with alarming results.
This is the fundamental problem with hardware manufacturers getting into creating computer software to operate their hardware. There is no easy way to transition into software, especially when you don't hire the necessary team of developers, security experts, etc. to support your goals. Hardware manufacturers goals and profit margins have long been based on a number of physical goods + labor + manufacturing + r&d + more. Software, unfortunately, isn't seen in the same way. It's just a geek with a computer and then something magical happens. They fail to realize that the same challenges with building, updating, upgrading, closing fatal flaws, testing, etc need to occur. But, because they can't see it, they fail to place the same amount of value on it. Once again, it's just a bunch of geeks and a bunch of computers.
Two interesting additions to this article that you should check out:
- exploits that require physical access aren't really that scary.
If there aren't already ways to hack into a car remotely, there soon will be.
I think that the move towards self-driving car will awake something in car manufacturers. Especially Google's car is filled with tech and has a large focus on software. When lives depend on it (which it doesn't now for the car companies: it's possible to hack them but this happens almost never compared to the amount of cars that are around), then software will get the attention it needs.
| the ECU could wait until the car was going at 80mph, and then disable all the brakes. They could also program in the ability to reboot and reset the ECU, so their hacked firmware would be removed from the system, leaving no trace of what they had done.|
This is a great Law & Order episode if any of you writers are in the mood to slap together an episode.
with lots of close up shots of Ice T face when he is losing control of the car.
Law & Order, this time is personal.... ICE T Personal.
Say no to that face, I dare you!