Lexus Computers Infected Via Bluetooth

Country_hacker writes "SCNews is reporting certain models of Lexus have been found with corrupted operating systems in their on-board computers. Evidently the virus got transferred through the Bluetooth interface. It's still unclear whether or not the computers run Symbian."

Comments

Symbian and Cabir Virus

[EggMan2000]

Cabir is transmitted as an SIS file (Symbian distribution file), disguised to be a Caribe Security Manager utility. If the infected file is launched, the telephone screen will display the inscription "Caribe".

The worm penetrates the system and will then be activated each time the phone is started. Cabir scans for all accessible phones using Bluetooth technology, and sends a copy of itself to the first one found.

Here is a link Caribe

Anti-virus companies have been warning for some time that mobile networks could be the next targets of virus authors. Mikko Hyppönen, director of anti-virus research at F-Secure, said several months ago that there was a danger of viruses spreading into GPRS networks through USB ports, and that pocket-PC devices would be easy targets for virus coders.

Fiat & Microsoft

[winkydink]

"We do know that car manufacturers are integrating existing operating systems into their onboard computers (take the Fiat and Microsoft deal, for instance)."

Proof that like seeks like when it comes to reliability.

New excuse

[JavaNPerl]

... to be late for work, because the 'flat tire' excuse is so passe.

Re:So what?

[PCM2]

This is a car that is full of wires and is basically a large chunk of metal. Explain to me why we are using Bluetooth instead of a wired solution. I don't see the advantages here.

The advantage is that the industry doesn't have to spend the next five years haggling over a wired communications standard for mobile phones. Instead they use Bluetooth, which is here right now. Using Bluetooth also means that handset manufacturers don't need to build more than one digital interface into their equipment. One of the devices people want to use with their handsets is a cordless headset, so manufacturers have to support that device. Why would they want to build in an entirely separate, wired interface for cars? (And why would you want to pay for them to do that?)

Re:Aeroplane!

[tbase]

Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

Re:Obligatory

[HungWeiLo]

Try:

Up, down, up, down, left, right, left, right, blinkers, horn, clutch, gas.

Re:Obligatory

[QuasiEvil]

It almost certainly will still run, unless it's a completely idiotic design. The ECM and/or PCM (engine control module / powertrain control module, whatever these cars call it, the thing that runs the automatic transmission, the injectors, the spark, idle air control, etc.) is almost certainly not attached in any meaningful way to an embedded computer running a known OS. They're all attached to some sort of bus on modern OBD-II cars, but the ECM is usually capable of operating on its own. ECMs and PCMs are usually 8 or 16 bit micros with truly embedded software (read: no conventional OS, written specifically for the application at hand). Modern ones are flash-upgradable, but I highly doubt this would be enabled through any sort of radio interface, and even if it was, it wouldn't be any sort of thing where it could pick up a virus.

Sounds to me like the fancy mapping stuff and maybe some user interfacing is controlled by the affected computer, not the fundamental powertrain stuff. Any car designer that runs his powertrain off anything but a hardened, reliable, embedded micro is just an idiot, and I can't believe Toyota would do something that dumb.