FBI Warns That Car Hacking Is a Real Risk (wired.com)

An anonymous reader writes: The FBI and the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are voicing their concerns about the potential risk of cars being hacked. In an advisory note, they urge the public to be aware of cyber-security threats revolving around connected vehicles. From the advisory, "Modern motor vehicles often include new connected vehicle technologies that aim to provide benefits such as added safety features, improved fuel economy, and greater overall convenience. Aftermarket devices are also providing consumers with new features to monitor the status of their vehicles. However, with this increased connectivity, it is important that consumers and manufacturers maintain awareness of potential cyber security threats." They are also advising drivers and manufacturers to ensure the vehicle software is up-to-date, and keeping an eye out for recalls.

Comments

Re:Classic Cars

[WheezyJoe]

I sympathize, but don't get in no accident. I remember my little rocket from '94, fun but no sun-roof, no power windows, no power locks, had to jury-rig a chirp-chirp alarm/kill-switch, no side-airbags, no anti-lock brakes. Fast, but it did NOT crash well.

Not quite the suicide machine as my college car, a '72 Olds with NON-POWER DRUMS on ALL WHEELS (you had to stand on the pedal to stop hard... if it worked at all due to a flaky master cylinder), but still, by today's standards, even my '94 was a death trap.

Now, we're going to see all cars with automatic braking in six years. More electronics, more complexity. But if it works, it will save lives. Shit, I used to think anti-lock brakes were too complex to mass-produce and work well, like I didn't want some jiggy contraption getting between me and my brakes. Sho' nuff, it's 2016 and they work great. They even got 'em on motorcycles.

So, particularly if you got kids, you're way better off in a new car then taking your chances in some old bolt bucket. Maybe car hacks raise the risk of theft, but older cars are child's play to break into. Maybe some monster hack might tinker with your car while you're driving, and that would be bad, but I'll warrant the BEST ODDS of that happening to you are TINY compared to being T-boned by a drunk. So, you're WAY better off in a new car, hackable or no.