Mazda Switches To USB Keys

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Posted by CmdrTaco on Thursday September 1, 2005 @07:45AM from the now-thats-just-wierd dept.

kv9 writes "The new Mazda Sassou while being 'cool and promoting a positive state of mind' has a most important feature, that every geek will love. Instead of the classic key it uses a usb flash drive for starting up. The key can also be used to transfer things like driving instructions or music to the car's hard drive."

36 of 623 comments (clear)

great, another point of failure by hqm · 2005-09-01 07:47 · Score: 5, Insightful

Now you don't have to lose your keys, just have to get them in salty water, or rub your feet on the carpet and touch them, or ....
1. Re:great, another point of failure by lukewarmfusion · 2005-09-01 07:54 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  I have a PNY Attache.
  
  I've gone swimming in the lake with it in my bathing suit pocket, worn fuzzy sweaters on thick carpet, and accidentally slammed it against some concrete (swinging it on a cord when the cord broke).
  
  The thing is really durable, and I'm certainly not gentle with it.
  
  Still works beautifully. YMMV.
2. Re:great, another point of failure by Saven+Marek · 2005-09-01 08:04 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  ...or take them to work. many many it workplaces ban the bringing of usb keys into the premises just as they do cell phones and ipods because of being a security risk.
  
  so you can't drive this car to work people
3. Re:great, another point of failure by Anonymous+Custard · 2005-09-01 08:05 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  How about running over it with a grain truck when the ambient temperature is -40 (celsius or fahrenheit, your pick)? I can do that with my keys right now and they still work.
  
  At -40 I'd be more worried about that little car even working than about crushing your keys.
  
  --
  $8.95/mo web hosting
4. Re:great, another point of failure by Evil+Adrian · 2005-09-01 08:10 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Why are you running over your keys? Are you stupid? Or are you just making a stupid argument for argument's sake?
  
  Who has ever run over their keys, incidentally? Seems like the keys need to be IN THE CAR IN THE FIRST PLACE for the thing to even be running to run something over.
  
  Your post angered me. Almost irrationally so. But I think I'm right.
  
  --
  evil adrian
5. Re:great, another point of failure by ari_j · 2005-09-01 08:19 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  You may find this shocking, but this is a problem that occurs due to the existence and proximity of other vehicles. As to the likelihood of this happening, I can't say that it's high. Or even measurable. However, it does exist. Say that you drive up to your house and walk across your cement driveway to the front door, shivering and hurried due to the extreme cold. There is probably also some wind. Yes, wind. Lots of wind. So you're fighting the wind, the cold, and hypothermia by this point, and you are carrying in groceries, a briefcase, and your gym bag. Your keys fall onto the driveway. You live in a secluded spot (secluded mostly due to the climate, if you can imagine that) so your front door is never locked, and you don't need the keys to get inside. You don't even know you're missing them until after you put the groceries away, and by then someone else has pulled up onto the driveway in a truck, running over your keys in the process.
  
  You're right that this is an excessively rare occurrence, but you are not right for the right reasons. You assume that either there is only one vehicle in all the world or that it requires stupidity to run over a car key. Neither assumption is valid, but your anger is. :)
6. Re:great, another point of failure by ari_j · 2005-09-01 08:22 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Wow. There are officially four Nodaks on Slashdot. :)
7. Re:great, another point of failure by jellomizer · 2005-09-01 08:22 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Who has ever run over their keys, incidentally? Seems like the keys need to be IN THE CAR IN THE FIRST PLACE for the thing to even be running to run something over.
  
  You work in a place with construction. You have your keys in your pocket but your hands a numb because of the cold. You try to put your car keys in your pocket but miss. They fall in the snow which muffles the sound. You get into the construction vehicle put it in reverse and you drive over your keys, after you have feeling in your hands maybe after 5 minutes you realize that you don't have your car keys so you start looking for them. You will walk in the tracks of the truck because it is easier walking and you happen to find the glint of your keys for your car you pick it up. And at the end of the day you put it in your car and it works.
  
  I am sorry but your post angered me. Almost irrationally so. But I think I made a good counter argument.
  
  --
  If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
8. Re:great, another point of failure by nocomment · 2005-09-01 08:28 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  So that's 100% of ND reads /.? ;)
  
  --
  /* oops I accidentally made a comment, sorry */
  /* http://allyourbasearebelongto.us */
"Mazda Sassou" Gesundheit! by Anonymous Coward · 2005-09-01 07:47 · Score: 4, Funny

Sounds like a Japanese sneeze.
Start the clock by Limburgher · 2005-09-01 07:47 · Score: 5, Insightful

How long before someone hacks it to:
A: Start multiple cars that they own
B: Start other people's cars

--
You are not the customer.
Security? by BlackCobra43 · 2005-09-01 07:47 · Score: 4, Insightful

How secure is this compared to a traditionnal key?

Really, "keygens" could be given a whole new meaning...

--
I never spellcheck and I freely admit it. Save your karma for more worthwhile "lol erorrs" replies
1. Re:Security? by owlstead · 2005-09-01 08:17 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  There are many USB tokens on the market. Probably a few of them will handle 2048 bit RSA keys. This is as strong asymetric encryption as you'll ever need.
  
  What you do is you send a challenge (random bytes) from the car to the token. It encrypts (read: signs) the challenge with the private key. Now the encrypted challenge can only be decrypted by the public key. The car does this and if it finds the challenge it knows that the token has the secret private key of the public/private key pair.
  
  These chips can keep the private key pretty safe, so safe that it is really, really hard to get it ever out of the chip, even in a big lab. And with USB it is pretty easy to put some MB's or GB's next to it.
  
  All this said, such a key would be easy to loose (forget you put it in a computer somewhere), and USB has not such a strong connector (even if better than most computer connectors). I hope they used one that was designed from scratch. It's not so much the security that I worry about.
This is a BAD idea. by Tuxedo+Jack · 2005-09-01 07:48 · Score: 4, Insightful

What if someone uses something like Ghost to dupe the USB key to a key of their own? Unless this is a chip-based key, it won't be secure at all - and I don't know about you, but I don't want someone going to Best Buy and buying a $20 USB key to dupe my car key onto.

--

Striking fear in the authors of godawful fanfiction, I am here, appearing in darkness, Tuxedo Jack!
1. Re:This is a BAD idea. by Piquan · 2005-09-01 07:53 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  As opposed to today, where they can go into any hardware store and buy a $1 blank and $3 service to dup your key onto another key?
2. Re:This is a BAD idea. by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · 2005-09-01 08:18 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  Today I can borrow a key for a few hours and go get a copy made, or I can make an impression of that key in just a minute, cast a model, and spend a few hours with my dremel tool making a duplicate that may or may not be good enough. I can duplicate a USB key in just a few minutes while you're in the bathroom. This just makes it even easier for someone with common off-the-shelf technology to make a copy. It has added functionality, but it is also less reliable and may be a vector for computer viruses to infect your car. Personally, I'll stick with an old fashioned key and a hidden kill switch.
3. Re:This is a BAD idea. by Octagon+Most · 2005-09-01 09:04 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  "I can duplicate a USB key in just a few minutes while you're in the bathroom.
  
  Since my keys are always in my pocket I will probably find your actions suspicious.
Driving Instructions? by dave-tx · 2005-09-01 07:49 · Score: 5, Funny

The key can also be used to transfer things like driving instructions
Sorry, but I don't want to be on the freeway with someone who needs instructions on how to drive.

--
>> "What would the robut do? Frame someone!"
1. Re:Driving Instructions? by sapped · 2005-09-01 08:33 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Sorry, but I don't want to be on the freeway with someone who needs instructions on how to drive.
  
  Steer clear of the 405 around LA. Oh and the 110 and the 101... Forget it. Just don't drive anywhere in Southern California.
Drives? Hard Drives? by Lead+Butthead · 2005-09-01 07:49 · Score: 4, Insightful

The key can also be used to transfer things like driving instructions or music to the car's hard drive.
So when the drive crashes, what happens? Are the vehicles owner permitted to make "archival" copies of the drive content? What sort of information are kept on these hard drives? Can the content of the drive be used against the owner in some way? Questions, so many questions...

--
ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI!?
What happened to RFID? by mungtor · 2005-09-01 07:50 · Score: 5, Informative

RFID would be the way to go. I though that somebody (Mercedes, Lexus?) had one of their uber-expensive cars set up so that you carried an RFID chip in a credit card in your wallet. When you pulled up on the doorhandle it checked your ID and unlocked. Automatically locked when you got more than 20 feet away, and only had a push-button for a starter.

Or, it could have all been a dream.
1. Re:What happened to RFID? by SFEley · 2005-09-01 08:08 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  It's not an "uber-expensive" feature; my Toyota Prius has it, and the car only cost $25,000. The RFID key's not a credit card, it's a fob on my keychain, but it's extremely convenient not to have to pull anything out to unlock my car or start it.
  
  --
  ESCAPE POD - The Science Fiction Podcast Magazine
2. Re:What happened to RFID? by Elwood+P+Dowd · 2005-09-01 08:56 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  The car will not lock when the remote is inside the car.
  This is going to be a plot element in a thriller at some point in the future.
  
  --
  
  There are no trails. There are no trees out here.
Re:Oh great. by ad0gg · 2005-09-01 07:50 · Score: 4, Funny

Considering that my USB key just died yesterday after about a year of use, taking lots of yummy files with it, my heart THRILLS at this news.
Yummy files? Is that the new term for porn?

--
Have you ever been to a turkish prison?
Soon to be implemented... by WombatControl · 2005-09-01 07:52 · Score: 4, Funny

Rumor has it that Mazda will introduce the new flash-drive technology on the 2006 Mazda 3.1. In the future they intend to make a version that can start via a network and is outfitted for carpooling - the Mazda 3.11 for Workgroups - until they get an 8-cylinder version, the Mazda 95.

(And while I may poke fun, I'm a happy owner of a 2005 Mazda 3, which is a damn good car - especially for the gas mileage...)
SCIF by Copperhead · 2005-09-01 07:53 · Score: 5, Interesting

My office is a classified environment, and USB drives ain't allowed in the door. Where am I supposed to put my keys?

--
Your reality is lies and balderdash and I'm delighted to say that I have no grasp of it whatsoever. - Baron Munchausen
My first written complaint about /. by Skynyrd · 2005-09-01 07:53 · Score: 5, Informative

"Mazda switches to USB keys"

Um, no.

Mazda put a USB key in a freakin' concept car. There's no USB keys in any Mazda at any dealership now. It might happen some day down the road.

"Switches" my ass. "Tries out"? "Messes about with"?

Come on guys.
Re:Hot Wiring: No Match for a Thief by Philmeeh · 2005-09-01 07:53 · Score: 4, Funny

Ahhh but look on the bright side - without a USB key they won't be able to upload their music to your harddrive
Re:This should be an adventure by nyrk · 2005-09-01 07:54 · Score: 4, Interesting

This already happens in a way. In high school it was pretty well known that most toyota keys would work on most toyota cars. I had a toyota pickup, and even though the keys were not the same, I was on one occasion able to enter, and start up a friend's truck. He happened to be walking on the sidewalk, and I drove past him as I was moving it to the back parking lot. That took a while to explain. Later though, he did help me when I locked my keys in my truck.
The point is, just because you see a failure mode in it doesn't mean that that he old way didn't have the a similar one
If by "Mazda switching to USB keys" by spyrral · 2005-09-01 07:55 · Score: 5, Insightful

...you mean Mazda experimenting with using USB drives as a key in a concept car, then yes.
Better than most. by tgd · 2005-09-01 07:56 · Score: 4, Informative

Most car models that don't have a radio immobilizer of some kind (which is most cars) only have maybe 30 different keys for the whole model production. A lot of repo guys have key rings with all the standard keys for high-repo models.

I've actually found a color/key collision before when I was a kid. My mom and I almost drove off with someone else's car until we realized it was WAY too clean to be our car and we were in the wrong one.

Thats also why you can go online and order key dupes using the number stamped on the key or in some cases the VIN.

(Not many people seem to know all you need is the VIN and a contact at a dealer to get a key, as well... and the VIN is visible on modern cars through the windshield)

There is no real security with cars. If someone wants it, they can take it.
1. Re:Better than most. by LightningBolt! · 2005-09-01 08:24 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Not many people seem to know all you need is the VIN and a contact at a dealer to get a key, as well... and the VIN is visible on modern cars through the windshield
  
  To be more specific, you need to have a sketchy contact at a dealer. In real terms, this translates to "anyone in sales or financing".
  
  --
  Old people fall. Young people spring. Rich people summer and winter.
Re:Security for everything by Ced_Ex · 2005-09-01 08:17 · Score: 4, Funny

Your naiveté betrays you -- there is no such thing as "rock solid". Ever.

What if you're talking about rocks?

--
Live forever, or die trying.
Re:Hot Wiring: No Match for a Thief by cgadd · 2005-09-01 08:20 · Score: 5, Informative

No, without commands from the computer to fire the injectors, etc, it won't start.
Re:Hot Wiring: No Match for a Thief by TobyWong · 2005-09-01 08:41 · Score: 4, Interesting

Real thieves don't hotwire anyhow. They back up the tow truck and tow the car away, engine imobilizer and all. In broad daylight even. You don't need to start it to chop it into pieces.

If they REALLY wanted to do it they could still "hotwire" the newer cars by bringing a seperate matching key/column computer and splicing it into the car but why bother with this hassle when you can just tow?

--
- Toby
security is about planning for the worst by DarthAngst · 2005-09-01 13:33 · Score: 5, Informative

If you work in a facility that requires you to not bring media into work so that you can't remove secret information, you deserve to be fired for bringing in a flash drive. Trusted insiders are the greatest threat, hence the need for policies. Such policies are very enforceable, and hold up under the law for the dismissal of employees who violate them. A good policy sets up not only what's forbidden, but also what to do if a security breach happens. Check http://www.sans.org/. If an employee is determined enough, he or she might just find a less restrictive job.