Scott Hommel
7/28/2013
CMSY-129-N091
Portfolio
Assignment 8
Internet
Security
Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek are two white-hat hackers that worked
to find bugs in Microsoft and Apple software. After receiving a federal grant
to conduct research on "car hacking" however, the pair is now set to
publish detailed techniques and blueprints for hacking into cars like the
Toyota Prius and Ford Escape, that utilize onboard computer systems. They found
that when sitting inside these cars with a laptop connected to the vehicle's
computer network they were able to control the car's breaks, steering wheel,
and acceleration. They hope the data will "encourage other white-hat
hackers to uncover more security flaws in autos."
Any real terrorist
threat would come from a remote attack outside of the vehicles, and apparently
there was an investigation in 2011 that proved automobiles could be hacked
remotely using Bluetooth systems and wireless networks. The U.S. government has
initiated an auto cyber-security research program in their effort to stay two
steps ahead of malicious hackers. This article relates to the week's reading in
regards to hacking and white-hat hacking in particular, while introducing a new
hacking concept; car hacking.
I
have heard of carjacking, but car "hacking" is a new term for me. I
have driven a Ford Edge with an onboard computer before, and to be honest I
found it impractical and not very user-friendly. I am pretty sure cars with
such technology are more difficult and/or more expensive to repair as well,
should something malfunction related to the car's computer. The added risk of
car-hacking seems to further negate the convenience or benefit of having a
computer in the car. While hacking into cars remotely may not yet be simple
enough for the average criminal mind, the possibilities are frightening and one
would hope that the government is able to work alongside car manufacturers to
ensure that black-hat hackers cannot remotely hack into automobiles with
malicious intentions.
Works Cited
Finkle, Jim. "Software
Experts Attack Cars, to Release Code as Hackers Meet." Yahoo!
News. Yahoo!, 28 July
2013. Web. 29 July 2013.
<http://news.yahoo.com/software-experts-attack-cars-release-code-hackers-meet-
130811715.html>.
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