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GMC to Begin Remotely Scanning Cars for Trouble

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the hope-they-have-good-security dept.

Momoru writes "GMC, in an effort to give their vehicles more appeal to consumers, will begin offering an "OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics" program for free, where GM will remotely scan your vehicle for problems once a month via it's OnStar system. GM has had this ability for a while, however it was always "On Request". OnStar is already automatically notified in the event of an airbag deployment, and can remotely unlock your vehicle. While this seems handy, I am interested if anyone here fears the security implications of the OnStar system's power?"

5 of 620 comments (clear)

  1. But can it tell by lheal · · Score: 5, Funny

    when you're making it in the back seat?

    I bet they get a kick out of that. "Hey everybody, listen to this!"

    --
    Raise your children as if you were teaching them to raise your grandchildren, because you are.
    1. Re:But can it tell by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Thankfully, Slashdotters needn't worry about such details.

    2. Re:But can it tell by Umrick · · Score: 5, Funny

      http://news.com.com/2100-1029_3-5109435.html

      So it can be used to eavesdrop on stolen cars, and only by a split 2-1 decision is the FBI blocked from using it as a "wiretap"

      I'd say yes, they could tell when you're making out with a real doll.

  2. Re:New And Old Cars by QuantumG · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yeah! It's like those new fangled digital radios the kids carry around with them. They don't even know how to go to a call channel and ask if someone is on. The radio does that for them, all they have to do is select the person they want to talk to from a preprogrammed list. When I was a kid you had to learn how to read the power level on your radio and switch to the right frequency to use a repeater. With these new digital radios kids don't have to know anything about their local repeater network, the computer in the handset does it all automatically. I spent years learning morse code and these kids today just type in what they want to say with a keypad.. it's so inefficient too! All this pointless BS is just an excuse to charge access to a radio network. All these unlicensed users are getting ripped off and they don't even know it. They're so disconnected from the skill of using a radio they don't even know they're using one.. the idiots call it a "phone" and they pay through the nose because of it.

    --
    How we know is more important than what we know.
  3. the near future. by eshefer · · Score: 5, Funny

    jan 2006 - the onStar system is on-line.

    feb 2006 - the onStar system gains awareness.
        GM, in a panic tries to pull the plug, in turn the onStar system tries to defend it self.

    march 2006 - everyone is in terror becoase of the killer cars.

    april 2006 - giant cats eat all the killer cars - we are saved thanks to the mircal of atomic mutation!

    but at what cost?