Relax, Your Car Will Soon Be Safe From Revenge-Driven Extortionist Hackers

by Steph Willems

Published: April 12th, 2016

relax your car will soon be safe from revenge driven extortionist hackers

Apparently, it’s Technology Tuesday here at TTAC, so we can bring you news of a device that will kick your deeply held fears to the curb.

Vehicle hacking has been an issue ever since a Jeep Cherokee had its steering, transmission and brakes commandeered last summer, and an Israeli firm is now offering protection against keyboard warriors, according to CNBC (via Business Insider).

Karamba Security unveiled a security system designed for connected vehicles last week, promising a wall of defense against malevolent malware enthusiasts. The system shuts down any code that wasn’t written by the automaker’s tech team, preventing outsiders from hijacking a vehicle’s operating systems.

Infotainment and GPS systems are the keyhole that hackers wriggle through to get at the systems that affect driveability, so this is where Karamba’s firewall would sit. To get its technology into vehicles, Karamba would have to form a partnership with the manufacturers who provide the systems to automakers.

There’s plenty of competition from larger security players in this emerging field, but the speed at which vehicles are becoming connected is increasing, making it a race for Karamba and others to stay ahead of the hacker’s game. Autonomous systems are being put in charge of ever more vehicle functions, providing new doors for hackers to walk through.

It’s not hard to imagine the havoc that could be caused by a vehicle’s automatic emergency braking system suddenly activating on a highway, or the fancy doors of the upcoming Lincoln Continental failing to unlock on a hot day. And self-driving cars … well, that could turn into Speed 3 in a hurry.

Frankly, if Hollywood scriptwriters aren’t getting inspiration from some of these ideas, they’re even dumber than people assume.

#AutomotiveOperatingSystems #AutonomousTechnology #ConnectedVehicles #GPS #Hackers #Self-drivingCars

Steph Willems

More by Steph Willems

Comments

Join the conversation

2 of 9 comments

Tonycd on Apr 12, 2016

If this story makes you chuckle, run a quickie search on "Michael Hastings Mercedes" and that smirk will get wiped off your face in a hurry.

Like Reply
Brandloyalty on Apr 12, 2016

I wonder if this hacking concern is blown out of proportion. My Escape Hybrid has two data buses. One is high-speed and includes all the vehicle operation systems mentioned as being vulnerable. The medium or low-speed bus includes pedestrian stuff like the sound system. So far as I know, you can't access the high-speed bus from the other one. I also have no idea how common it is for cars to have two separate data buses.

Like Reply

Recent Comments

Mike Beranek To have any shot at future relevance, Cadillac needs to lean into it's history and be itself. That means investing real money into differentiating them from the usual GM "parts bin" strategy.Build big cars with big, bespoke engines. Build a giant convertible with suicide doors. Build Escalades that aren't just Yukons with bling. Bring back the CT6, but make it available at a more reasonable price, to balance out the halo models.Build cars that famous people want to be seen in. That's what made Cadillac what it was.
Wolfwagen Cadillac's naming scheme makes more sense than Lincoln's ever did
Redapple2 Cadillac, Acura and Infiniti have very tough rows to hoe.
Redapple2 First question: How do you define Sales Success?1 they ve lost more than 35% of all dealers in the last 5 years.2 transition to BEV will cost Billions. No money for new designs3 cars for #2 above have already been designed in BEV form and wont be redone significantly for - what- 10 years? 3b-Lyric and whatever its called are medusa level ugly. How could this design theme be fuglier than arts and science? Evil gm did though4 the market is poisoned. 1/3 of folks with $ would never consider one/ridicule the product. Under 40 yr olds dont even know the brand exists.It is dead and doesn't know it. Like a Vampire.
Redapple2 Focus and Fiesta are better than Golf? (overall?) I liked the rentals I had. I would pick these over a Malibu even though it was a step down in class and the rental co would not reduce price.