San Diego University IT experts have revealed the next security hole in a car. According to their own information they could SMS the brakes and the windscreen wipers one Chevrolet Press Corvette remotely. They did not directly attack the software of the vehicle, but obtained a retrofitted black box access.
Such devices are popular especially in the USA. They enable fleet operators or insurance companies to remotely read out vehicle data, such as speed and braking behavior. Apparently, some devices can also serve as a gateway for hackers. The black boxes are usually connected to the so-called ODB interface of the cars and communicate via a mobile module with a server. In addition to the transfer of data, they often entice vehicle users with comfort functions such as opening the door or starting the engine remotely.
The SMS hack is the latest attack in a whole series of similar cases. Hackers have recently been able to disable a Tesla S while driving, with further vulnerabilities being exposed on General Motors, Chrysler and BMW vehicles.
Author: Holger Holzer / SP-X