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The Shoddy State of Automotive Wireless Security
angry tapir writes "Researchers from Rutgers University and University of South Carolina have found that wireless communications between new cars and their tires can be intercepted or even forged. While the potential for misuse may be minimal, this vulnerability points to a troubling lack of rigor with secure software development for new automobiles, said Wenyuan Xu, a computer science assistant professor at the University of South Carolina, who was a co-lead on the study. The researchers will present their findings at the Usenix Security Symposium, being held this week in Washington DC."
If the potential for misuse is minimal, then it's only common sense to make the tire communications simple and easy to troubleshoot, and to assign the security people to work on something that matters.
By the way someone who wants to track a car can use these very convenient numbered plaques visible in front and in the back of the car with only a cheap camera and on-the-shelf software.
I wonder however if a bad pressure signal could be forged, forcing the car to stop ?
The Wise adapts himself to the world. The Fool adapts the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the Fool.
You might think you don't need ABS, but as another driver on the road, I'd prefer you had it. I'd prefer it a lot.
I don't care if you think you can pump the brakes well. ABS can pump them a lot faster, and it can do something you can't ever do without drastically changing the controls design: it can pump the brakes individually by wheel.
If the only danger was you sliding off a curve into a a tree or ravine after losing your steering, I'd say, "Go for it, we can always use less people." But it's not. There's also the danger of you not being able to avoid an accident with me, and I like being alive!.
Please be considerate of your other drivers.
Can you be Even More Awesome?!
I hate this neo-luddite position people take when any little thing goes wrong. Your dream car is my nightmare death-trap car. I want airbags, ABS, wireless tire gauges, proximity sensors, ability to pull codes from computer, etc. I suspect most people do. If you want a specialized custom car, then built it yourself, but don't pretend your simplistic car needs speak for anyone else but yourself.
Not to mention its foolish to throw the baby out with the bathwater. I remember people like you when the web started to become popular. "Oh who needs this crap, I already have TV and the newspaper!"
I'm probably older than you and I certainly remember the PITA carburetors were compared to fuel injectors. Heck, my dad had to deal with vapor lock. When was the last time you needed to rebuild a carburetor or wait out vapor lock? I think you're just spoiled by the technology you decry.
you slam them on when you absolutely have to, they start 'chattering', and won't stop you in time.
If you had regular brakes, the wheels would have locked and you would not be able to steer at all. You would have slid into the other car. You only have control when the tire is gripping the road.
When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!