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Connecting To Unsecured Bluetooth Car Systems To Monitor Traffic Flow

Posted by Unknown on from the drive-slowly-for-maximum-confusion dept.

New submitter TheTerseOne writes "The Columbian, the local newspaper of Vancouver (not BC), Washington (not DC) is reporting that local county traffic officials plan on spending $540k of government money to monitor traffic by connecting to vehicles' Bluetooth systems (whose owners/drivers have left them discoverable). The county claims that, although this sounds 'creepy' and 'like Big Brother,' there is no cause for concern. The specific brand of the system is not mentioned, but similar systems have already been the subject of security alerts." County officials note that they are stripping out part of the MAC, and the system is intentionally designed not to be useful for law enforcement to locate specific devices.

8 of 161 comments (clear)

  1. Halifax too! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Halifax just did the same thing (though only spent 43k). Only release was the tender process, and no acknowledgement after repeated requests for information.

    1. Re:Halifax too! by Ralph+Wiggam · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I like all of the computers in my car. If someone wants to gather anonymous data to make traffic better, I'm fine with that.

    2. Re:Halifax too! by CanHasDIY · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I like all of the computers in my car. If someone wants to gather anonymous data to make traffic better, I'm fine with that.

      Right, because just like every other government tracking program, there's absolutely no way it will ever have its scope expanded to include warrant-less tracking/searches.

      Ever. Nothing to worry about, citizen, Big Brother loves you.

      Now back to your regularly scheduled broadcast of Everyone Loves Hypnotoad.

      --
      An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
    3. Re:Halifax too! by adolf · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You know what?

      I don't care.

      I really do not care. At all.

      Not a bit.

      I have nothing to hide in my daily travels, and I welcome this advancement in the field of traffic study. It is my hope that such technology can be used to make my driving experience better.

      I don't see the problem here. I normally don't give a hoot what they do with their data about what my radios broadcast on public ISM bands, nor how personalized it might be. If I do care, then I can always, you know, stop shouting to anyone in earshot at 2.4GHz about my whereabouts.

      And you know what? If you care all the time, you can elect to not shout your whereabouts as well: Stop traveling with active, transmitting 2-way radios. Done.

      --
      Kid-proof tablet..
  2. Of course by ArcadeMan · · Score: 4, Insightful

    County officials note that they are stripping out part of the MAC (of course they will), and the system is intentionally designed not to be useful for law enforcement to locate specific devices (of course it won't).

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  3. CFAA? by cob666 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Connecting to a computer system without the consent of the owner is still a violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and a felony the last time I checked.

    --
    Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law - Aleister Crowley
  4. Slight misrepresentation... by Shoten · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It should be noted that they are not "connecting" to these devices, just cataloging the ones which announce their own presence. It's pretty fricking passive.

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    For your security, this post has been encrypted with ROT-13, twice.
  5. Bluetooth, shmoothooth by psydeshow · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This seems really complicated. Why not just track the RFID signature generated by the various parts of the car which are tagged? Tires, replacement parts, items in the trunk, ID badges on the passengers....