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Nissan Leaf HVAC-Hack Vulnerability Disclosed (bbc.com)
GWBasic writes: Some of Nissan's Leaf cars can be easily hacked, allowing their heating and air-conditioning systems to be hijacked, according to [Troy Hunt,] a prominent security researcher. .... Mr Hunt said the root of the problem was that the firm's NissanConnect app needed only a car's vehicle identification number (VIN) to take control. That means that pranksters could pretty easily run down a Leaf's battery via Nissan's app just by cycling through VIN numbers, which, the article points out, typically vary only in the last few digits for same-region Leafs, and for an electric car that's a big deal -- you can't just get a quick jump and be on your way. For now, Hunt says, the only thing owners can do is disable the remote-control feature completely.
I've been a stagecoach driver for 200 years and I have yet to come up with a reason why my wagon needs a combustion engine. They all seem to work just fine with a horse.