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BMW Patches Security Flaw Affecting Over 2 Million Vehicles
An anonymous reader writes BMW has fixed a security bug which left 2.2 million cars, including models from Rolls Royce and Mini, exposed to hackers. The flaw was discovered in vehicles using BMW's ConnectedDrive software, which runs from an installed on-board Sim card. Via the smartphone app, owners can remotely control a number of functions including door locks, air conditioning and sounding the horn. Researchers from the German motorist association ADAC identified the flaw which allowed the system to connect to fake mobile phone networks, enabling hackers to remotely control the Sim card.
Seriously, car systems should have, at most, a dumb screen that I can extend with whatever computer hardware I choose to add, if any. I cannot comprehend why anyone would want a built-in navigation system, for example, when my phone already does it, and does it better. Just write an app that lets me broadcast my screen through my USB port while I charge.
Seriously, car systems should have, at most, a dumb screen that I can extend with whatever computer hardware I choose to add, if any. I cannot comprehend why anyone would want a built-in navigation system, for example, when my phone already does it, and does it better. Just write an app that lets me broadcast my screen through my USB port while I charge.
The user interface on phones suck. It is difficult and dangerous to enter a destination, and it requires you to hold your phone or buy or manufacture something to hold the phone up in your line of sight so you don't have to keep glancing down at it. Then what happens if you get a phone call? You have to pick it up (unless the car has bluetooth, which I would imagine if you don't like integrated GPS, you probably don't like integrated bluetooth either.)
Phones are capable of doing a lot of things that they are not very good at and purpose built devices are orders of magnitudes better than phones at just about everything except making phone calls. In fact, the phonebook on my car's bluetooth connection to the phone is better than the interface on my phone.
My built-in GPS shows road construction and accidents, something my phone doesn't do, and it shows it on a 8.8 inch screen, something my phone doesn't do.
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So, what's the fix? Before, everybody could remotely open your car, now only BMW can do it? They call that a "fix"?
Someone will always be smarter than you, no matter how many layers of security you pile on. Don't let your car be opened remotely. I guess we'll all have to learn the hard way not to give up control of our own property for a handful of glittery dust.
OP here.
Your phone doesn't do those things, but there's no reason it *can't*.
Phones have high-speed data/charging ports, yet they go unused. And I have no problem with bluetooth as an option. Hell, I've added bluetooth to my car.
Using my phone via bluetooth has been great. I have a holder for my phone to display GPS info, google maps ABSOLUTELY DOES show traffic delays (I don't care if it's construction, accidents, or whatever, I only care that it impedes my travel), and most importantly, my car isn't communicating with a WAN outside of my control. And since it's my phone, it still has my "home" address saved (along with any other address I choose to save) the moment I set it up... and if someone else were to steal my car, they won't suddenly also know where I live, work, and anywhere else I visit.
Hell, just give me a 10" screen with HDMI, I'll get a chromecast for my car.
Seriously, car systems should have, at most, a dumb screen that I can extend with whatever computer hardware I choose to add, if any. I cannot comprehend why anyone would want a built-in navigation system, for example, when my phone already does it, and does it better. Just write an app that lets me broadcast my screen through my USB port while I charge.
I'm not sure I understand your question - how will manufacturers sell you a $2000 entertainment and navigation system if you use your phone for that? And even if they wanted to do this, how could so many different manufacturers cooperate to come up with a single standard for a smart phone interface, surely every manufacturer would have to implement things slightly differently, like they do with bluetooth support where some features work in some cars, but not others.
in car systems are massively overpriced, but I would never choose to use my phone over my incar navigation. Phones are awkward, unwieldy with smaller screens and no integration.
If you have Google Maps or Apple Maps, you need your data connection. There are other options available. I use Sygic and others are available. All offline. Some free, some you pay for.
If you add a (bluetooth) OBDII dongle, you can get the car data from the engine as well.
Many people have added their tablet (Apple and Android) as their primary interface for media. There is specific software available to do all this. Nothing stops you doing the same with your phone.
At this moment about 95% of the time all my radio does is transfer the sound of my phone to my boxes. I have not configured a radio station yet in the 5 years I have it. On big road trips, I prefer the Garmin, because it is easier to add a route like this into a route on the Garmin using Tyre and the Garmin software.
Added advantages for using my phone and not an internal system? When I want to do changes to it, I can do it at my desk. I can get a new device and upgrade or downgrade it as I please. If I drive with somebody, I can listen to their music. If they steal my car-radio, I buy a new one for 50-100EUR.
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