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BMW Cars Vulnerable To Blank Key Attack

Posted by timothy on from the now-that-is-a-catchy-slogan dept.

Techmeology writes "Thieves have discovered how to steal BMW cars produced since 2006 by using the onboard computer that is able to program blank keys. The device used — originally intended for use by garages — is able to reprogram the key to start the engine in around three minutes. The blank keys, and reprogramming devices, have made their way onto the black market and are available for purchase over the Internet."

2 of 291 comments (clear)

  1. Imagine if this was self-driving car by Googlefu · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Not only would Google's self-driving car be vulnerable to this attack, it would start driving around itself! And you would be responsible for everything the hacked vehicle did.

    I agree with the previous note. It raises some very interesting points and why Google's self-driving cars would be bad. Just imagine if someone hacked your car and it ran over someone.

  2. Passive alarm system. by SternisheFan · · Score: 5, Interesting

    True story. Some years back in N.Y.C. thieves stole a restored vintage car, not knowing the owner had installed his own homemade anti-theft deterrent system. As they're tooling around in Manhattan, the thief who's driving sees a large unlabled red button mounted all by itself in the dash. The guy says to his buddy, "Hey,I wonder what this does...", and presses it. In the middle of a block the engine shuts down, the horn blares, and the car's lights keep flashing on and off. Unable to restart it, the thieves abandon the car, and that owner was laughing when he got it back, unscathed, the same day. So this story shows how you don't always need an expensive complicated alarm system to get the job done.