Hackers Reveal Nasty New Car Attacks with reporter behind the wheel. New Forbs article gives credence to Michael Hastings Boston Breaks theory

This touches on another issue that could get a whole thread to itself. So much on a modern car is computer driven and all routed through the ECU. Loads of cars now have inbuilt wireless or satellite devices now too so if the wireless hack mentioned in the New Scientist article turns out soundit would open up a world of options.

No you could not just unhook something to disable, modern cars are chock full of immobilizers. There is a lot of complex wiring, just mind boggling unless you have advanced electronic knowledge.


'Cash for Clunkers' was clearly a conspiracy to get unhackable cars off the road.


I think Hastings was car hacked and car bombed. No way an engine would wind up out of chassis.

$25 gadget lets hackers seize control of a car

[link to www.newscientist.com]

That looks set to change on 27 July, when Spanish engineers Javier Vázquez Vidal and Alberto Garcia Illera will give a demonstration at the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. They have built a $25 device that lets them bypass security in a car's electronic control unit.

The brains of a modern car, the ECU is a computer that controls engine power, transmission and braking. Mechanics can diagnose faults by plugging a laptop into it via standard wired connectors such as the CAN bus. Alternatively, remote diagnostics and software updates can take place over a cellular network, as happens with services such as General Motors' OnStar and Mercedes-Benz's Mbrace.

Vázquez Vidal and Garcia Illera will show how their device – which they claim uses a $1 chip to break encryption – can read from and write data to the flash memory of commonly used ECUs, made by Bosch of Germany. In this way, they can get more horsepower out of a car, or tell it to burn less fuel. "And it would take no time to gain total control over a vehicle – deploying an airbag, activating the brakes, or immobilising a car at any moment," says Vázquez Vidal.

How they have done this is unclear. "My best guess is that they have managed to put the ECU into an unencrypted test state, possibly by playing around with power-up sequences," says Peter Highton, a senior engineer with Freescale Semiconductor in Aylesbury, UK, which makes ECU microchips for racing cars as well as ordinary vehicles.

Less than 50% of article included.

Get the stripped down base models. Manual EVERYTHING!

So any auto with an ECU? any automobiles safe, ie. vintage, late 80's, 90's? Input please OP

From what I've gathered any auto with an ECU is vulnerable.

From what is out there anything from 2005 back is okay. Though anything with electronic breaks is vulnerable break wise so maybe 98ish. Can anyone that has better knowledge on this help out on this question?

* The separated engine, transmission, drive shaft -- in what appears to be pristine condition -- is almost physically impossible. The bolts would have to be split apart uniformly. It makes no sense...

Get the stripped down base models. Manual EVERYTHING!

i think obd-2 started around 1994 or so

It sure is. Last month I bought a brand new base model 4x4 with manual everything. It's not protected from an EMP of course...it has a little computer box...but there is no way in hell you could control this thing unless you are behind the wheel.

Won't matter...they will still have the government black boxes as of 2015....and engine computers that can be hacked.

Best solution for now....have your mechanic install a MANUAL master cutoff switch that cuts all power from the alternator and battery.
...and don't buy a car with an electric based parking brake.

This sh*t is out of control.

:obeyo:

PROOF! Hackers Attack & Control a Car Computer with $25 Device!

[link to www.forbes.com]

[link to www.newscientist.com]


[link to www.youtube.com]

It sure is. Last month I bought a brand new base model 4x4 with manual everything. It's not protected from an EMP of course...it has a little computer box...but there is no way in hell you could control this thing unless you are behind the wheel.

They already have been, one news station had a report on the possibility of this, I can't remember which station it was but it was in the last few weeks. If someone did do something to Hastings car they must have had shares in something either than autos.

Yes, every mobile part of a newer car can be hacked including air conditioning, side mirrors and the music system.

I am confused....

So this guy plugs into the ODB port, logs into the ECU and disables the ABS which disables the brakes?

How is this news?

People have been "hacking" ECU's via ODB port for over a decade.

And as the Emergency Brake is mechanical, I am sure he could have still stopped.

No need to plug into anything on these interweb connected cars. Could be done from anywhere in the world.



I had a 80s GM in high school that sometimes would suddenly accelerate. It's unsettling to say the least and most make the stupid mistake of switching car off with key. And engaging the steering lock.


If your car ever suddenly accelerates, bang it into neutral. Don't touch the key, hit neutral.

They already have been, one news station had a report on the possibility of this, I can't remember which station it was but it was in the last few weeks. If someone did do something to Hastings car they must have had shares in something either than autos.

Yes, every mobile part of a newer car can be hacked including air conditioning, side mirrors and the music system.

A Jeep?

No one sells 4x4s that aren't loaded with unnecessary crap anymore.

Aha! So this is what happened to Toyota as so many of their Camry brakes began failing! They were specifically targeted!

Ya knew there at to be more to that story.

I am confused....

So this guy plugs into the ODB port, logs into the ECU and disables the ABS which disables the brakes?

How is this news?

People have been "hacking" ECU's via ODB port for over a decade.

And as the Emergency Brake is mechanical, I am sure he could have still stopped.

As a mechanic and engineer, I can tell you the level of CPU control in new Mercedes is second to none. This means that YES, the car could be hacked and controlled.

Also, the reports of loud explosion and separation of the engine from the car in the Hasting incident indicate that semtex or similar high-order explosive was employed.

In Mercedes, the engine is secured to the transmission by 8 grade 8 bolts of 10mm diameter. As well, the engine is secured to the chassis frame rails by large, elastic mount with high-grade hardware. The elasticity of the transmission mounts and engine mounts is such that only a high-order explosive charge could separate the two units.

Additionally, the sheet metal of the car would slow down the large hardware *exiting* so that it would not fly 50 yards.


You sheep-apes have just seen how even a lowly general can have a civilian murdered.

If you do not hang together, you will surely hang separately...