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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.

5 of 161 comments (clear)

  1. 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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  2. 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.

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  3. 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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  4. 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.

  5. 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.

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