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Are cars' safety computers vulnerable to hackers?

USA Today -- Could entertainment-related computers in cars -- navigation, phones and the like -- be hacked, providing an entry point to manipulate computers controlling safety functions

It's an interesting question posed by Bloomberg News in a report about the possibility that entertainment systems could be manipulated.

"There clearly is a vulnerability," said Adrian Lund, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, based in Arlington, Va. "All these electronics we're bringing into cars seem to exacerbate that."

A National Academy of Sciences panel, including Lund, elevated the concerns in a report Jan. 18 reviewing U.S. regulators' work in finding the cause of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.

While safety and entertainment systems are intended be separate, ...

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Submitted Jan 31, 2012 By: BurntOrange

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DanMtz Champion Author Oakland Posts:1,522 Points:881,300 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Feb 1, 2012 8:27:05 PM Ignore DanMtz Report Abuse There is no doubt.
badbonita Champion Author Syracuse Posts:4,369 Points:991,580 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Feb 1, 2012 6:03:50 PM Ignore badbonita Report Abuse Surprised that the idea hasn't made an appearnce before now.
BobBG Veteran Author Albany Posts:447 Points:579,900 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Feb 1, 2012 12:09:43 PM Ignore BobBG Report Abuse scary
chemist74 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:12,897 Points:2,278,900 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Feb 1, 2012 11:28:09 AM Ignore chemist74 Report Abuse Any time there is any connection between the computers controlling the engine/brakes/mechanicals/security system and any form of communication system (cell phone/OnStar etc.) the systems can be hacked. If it can be done, it will be done.
Sparky19038 Sophomore Author Philadelphia Posts:196 Points:234,995 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Feb 1, 2012 9:12:07 AM Ignore Sparky19038 Report Abuse @IwanFL Why? Here are just a few possible motivations: 1. The challenge 2. To mess with people ("Ha ha... watch him try to start his car!") 3. To steal data (especially if the car interfaces with a smartphone or other computer) 4. To cause mayhem - Imagine what would happen if someone were able to remotely turn a car's engine off, and did so, while the car was in relatively heavy traffic on an interstate, moving at 70 mph 5. To steal the car, outright
Sparky19038 Sophomore Author Philadelphia Posts:196 Points:234,995 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Feb 1, 2012 9:05:44 AM Ignore Sparky19038 Report Abuse @feldos Not true. Some hackers do it for the challenge. Some do it just to cause trouble.
RNCII Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,789 Points:332,120 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 1, 2012 4:21:08 AM Ignore RNCII Report Abuse I think that info about when and where you go places would be more valuable and vulnerable too
chuckwthompson Champion Author Charlotte Posts:1,880 Points:215,585 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Feb 1, 2012 12:47:04 AM Ignore chuckwthompson Report Abuse Any computer can be hacked. Just ask the Department of Defense.
feldos Champion Author Florida Posts:2,640 Points:322,050 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 1, 2012 12:42:37 AM Ignore feldos Report Abuse Won't happen until there is a way for the hackers to make money from it.
JamesCalvin Champion Author Lancaster Posts:1,258 Points:161,100 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Feb 1, 2012 12:18:47 AM Ignore JamesCalvin Report Abuse There's a bad apple in every orchard!
Ahking Champion Author Orange County Posts:2,006 Points:329,095 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 1, 2012 12:14:43 AM Ignore Ahking Report Abuse there is risk.
lesndave Champion Author Texas Posts:1,246 Points:341,555 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2012 11:21:02 PM Ignore lesndave Report Abuse Any computer can be hacked.
PathfinderSC Champion Author South Carolina Posts:7,706 Points:1,470,995 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2012 10:23:28 PM Ignore PathfinderSC Report Abuse Sure someone with nothing better to do could find a way.
lesandliz Sophomore Author New Orleans Posts:125 Points:143,935 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2012 10:08:09 PM Ignore lesandliz Report Abuse Just another day with electronics
ExplorerWA Champion Author Washington Posts:2,242 Points:435,440 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2012 10:01:28 PM Ignore ExplorerWA Report Abuse They certainly are vulnerable and can be hacked.
beck12j All-Star Author Dayton Posts:796 Points:234,715 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2012 9:41:36 PM Ignore beck12j Report Abuse ok
BuckyTJones Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:3,109 Points:687,260 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2012 9:25:02 PM Ignore BuckyTJones Report Abuse If there is the will, there will be a way
jjjleblanc Champion Author Rochester Posts:4,722 Points:1,197,115 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2012 9:20:50 PM Ignore jjjleblanc Report Abuse Maybe after they get bored with computers and phones.
IwanFL Sophomore Author Gainesville Posts:224 Points:80,430 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2012 7:19:05 PM Ignore IwanFL Report Abuse maybe, maybe not, why would you hack a car computer?
tnfran Champion Author Arizona Posts:2,559 Points:495,725 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2012 6:50:58 PM Ignore tnfran Report Abuse SO.........When it comes to 'hackers ' anything goes. I don't mean it is ok for them to do it but that with their mindset they want to be "conquerors" [Edited by: tnfran at 1/31/2012 6:52:13 PM EST]
buckets42 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,008 Points:194,870 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2012 6:39:20 PM Ignore buckets42 Report Abuse Don't cars already have a firewall (ha-ha)?
Mooseman1 Champion Author Manitoba Posts:7,428 Points:1,463,980 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2012 6:38:32 PM Ignore Mooseman1 Report Abuse I guess our cars' computers will need a Firewall against viruses.
doeslayersr Champion Author Illinois Posts:5,816 Points:510,200 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2012 6:19:36 PM Ignore doeslayersr Report Abuse Any computer can be hacked. I doubt the computer software is very secure to begin with. No one has attempted it for a malicious aspect as of yet because there is no apparent $$ to be gained in doing so. However, given the chance, I am sure a lot of people would love to tinker with the software which controls your engine. People probably do not realize most cars which have a computerized control modules controlling the car, engine, etc have limits put in. Most passenger cars will experience an automatic fuel cut off if the computer senses a speed faster than what the manufacturer specified the OEM supplied tires are speed rated for. If the car came from the factory with tires rated for 110 mph, the fuel cut off limit will prevent the car from exceeding 110 mph. Some performance minded people would love to tweak shift points, fuel trim, etc.
edgarCA Champion Author Oakland Posts:1,536 Points:232,670 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2012 5:43:43 PM Ignore edgarCA Report Abuse Yawn.
schatzila Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:3,242 Points:679,090 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2012 5:39:53 PM Ignore schatzila Report Abuse All computers can be hacked.
Charley_7 Veteran Author New York Posts:291 Points:138,615 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2012 5:12:50 PM Ignore Charley_7 Report Abuse May cars not be integrated with our smartphones anytime soon...
Moumoom Sophomore Author Toronto Posts:192 Points:191,760 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2012 3:00:04 PM Ignore Moumoom Report Abuse scary prospect.
jwkycola Veteran Author Columbia Posts:401 Points:243,175 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2012 2:58:22 PM Ignore jwkycola Report Abuse If it is a computer, it can be hacked.
db60 All-Star Author Indiana Posts:982 Points:211,255 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2012 2:54:27 PM Ignore db60 Report Abuse Article makes a good point. Now I'm looking for a '63 Chevy. ;)
norcalmag10 Sophomore Author Sacramento Posts:238 Points:187,765 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2012 2:51:10 PM Ignore norcalmag10 Report Abuse i would think so, since its a computer
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:17,316 Points:2,009,320 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2012 2:14:37 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse duh... if its a computer its vulerable.