Drive by wire... are we sitting ducks?
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Post *****
Joined: December 14, 2007
Posts: 19,953
Likes: 4
From: State of Jefferson Mountains USA
But wait, there's more...
Wonder if the device was disclosed to buyers?
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/201...r-bricks-cars/
Hacker Disables More Than 100 Cars Remotely
- By Kevin Poulsen
- March 17, 2010
- 1:52 pm
Police with Austin’s High Tech Crime Unit on Wednesday arrested 20-year-old Omar Ramos-Lopez, a former Texas Auto Center employee who was laid off last month, and allegedly sought revenge by bricking the cars sold from the dealership’s four Austin-area lots.
“We initially dismissed it as mechanical failure,” says Texas Auto Center manager Martin Garcia. “We started having a rash of up to a hundred customers at one time complaining. Some customers complained of the horns going off in the middle of the night. The only option they had was to remove the battery.”
The dealership used a system called Webtech Plus as an alternative to repossessing vehicles that haven’t been paid for. Operated by Cleveland-based Pay Technologies, the system lets car dealers install a small black box under vehicle dashboards that responds to commands issued through a central website, and relayed over a wireless pager network. The dealer can disable a car’s ignition system, or trigger the horn to begin honking, as a reminder that a payment is due. The system will not stop a running vehicle.
“We initially dismissed it as mechanical failure,” says Texas Auto Center manager Martin Garcia. “We started having a rash of up to a hundred customers at one time complaining. Some customers complained of the horns going off in the middle of the night. The only option they had was to remove the battery.”
The dealership used a system called Webtech Plus as an alternative to repossessing vehicles that haven’t been paid for. Operated by Cleveland-based Pay Technologies, the system lets car dealers install a small black box under vehicle dashboards that responds to commands issued through a central website, and relayed over a wireless pager network. The dealer can disable a car’s ignition system, or trigger the horn to begin honking, as a reminder that a payment is due. The system will not stop a running vehicle.
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/201...r-bricks-cars/
Last edited by cdynaco; Mar 18, 2010 at 04:26 PM.
Thread Starter
Post *****
Joined: December 14, 2007
Posts: 19,953
Likes: 4
From: State of Jefferson Mountains USA
MOTM Committee Member
Joined: April 17, 2006
Posts: 9,201
Likes: 2
From: SoCal
Wonder if the device was disclosed to buyers?
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/201...r-bricks-cars/
Hacker Disables More Than 100 Cars Remotely
- By Kevin Poulsen
- March 17, 2010
- 1:52 pm
Police with Austin’s High Tech Crime Unit on Wednesday arrested 20-year-old Omar Ramos-Lopez, a former Texas Auto Center employee who was laid off last month, and allegedly sought revenge by bricking the cars sold from the dealership’s four Austin-area lots.
“We initially dismissed it as mechanical failure,” says Texas Auto Center manager Martin Garcia. “We started having a rash of up to a hundred customers at one time complaining. Some customers complained of the horns going off in the middle of the night. The only option they had was to remove the battery.”
The dealership used a system called Webtech Plus as an alternative to repossessing vehicles that haven’t been paid for. Operated by Cleveland-based Pay Technologies, the system lets car dealers install a small black box under vehicle dashboards that responds to commands issued through a central website, and relayed over a wireless pager network. The dealer can disable a car’s ignition system, or trigger the horn to begin honking, as a reminder that a payment is due. The system will not stop a running vehicle.
“We initially dismissed it as mechanical failure,” says Texas Auto Center manager Martin Garcia. “We started having a rash of up to a hundred customers at one time complaining. Some customers complained of the horns going off in the middle of the night. The only option they had was to remove the battery.”
The dealership used a system called Webtech Plus as an alternative to repossessing vehicles that haven’t been paid for. Operated by Cleveland-based Pay Technologies, the system lets car dealers install a small black box under vehicle dashboards that responds to commands issued through a central website, and relayed over a wireless pager network. The dealer can disable a car’s ignition system, or trigger the horn to begin honking, as a reminder that a payment is due. The system will not stop a running vehicle.
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/201...r-bricks-cars/
scary stuff when this tech gets in the wrong hands
Mach 1 Member
Joined: January 18, 2010
Posts: 562
Likes: 0
From: KC, MO
Well at least we know who's gas to syphon first 
While I understand there are many ways to cripple society, since I live well away from a 7.11, I need to have some way in reserve to get me closer to the chaos.
As for me, I've never had a manual throttle stick and the spring is default to close. In contrast how many Toy throttle's have stuck thus far?? And now "brake by wire" problems with the Prius?? And now Ford needs a software bump to correct its hybrid brakes???
So... I'm in my new '11 Diaper Stang 5.0 with electric power steering, and the DBW throttle sticks... so I turn the key off to save my bacon... and hopefully the brakes still work (since the Mustang's aren't electric yet...), but what about the steering since I turned the electricity off??
While I understand there are many ways to cripple society, since I live well away from a 7.11, I need to have some way in reserve to get me closer to the chaos.
As for me, I've never had a manual throttle stick and the spring is default to close. In contrast how many Toy throttle's have stuck thus far?? And now "brake by wire" problems with the Prius?? And now Ford needs a software bump to correct its hybrid brakes???
So... I'm in my new '11 Diaper Stang 5.0 with electric power steering, and the DBW throttle sticks... so I turn the key off to save my bacon... and hopefully the brakes still work (since the Mustang's aren't electric yet...), but what about the steering since I turned the electricity off??
FR500 Member
Joined: July 1, 2008
Posts: 3,352
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From: Oxford, UK
I'd be curious to know if the power assist actually turns off. For once, there is an option to program the car keep the assist on if the car is still moving. That would be a very nice safety advantage!
FR500 Member
Joined: August 15, 2005
Posts: 3,084
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From: Honolulu
I'm thinking the Mustang's (and other Ford) EPAS is simply for assistance - still has a physical link (steering shaft) to the steering rack. The effect of shutting off the engine on a car with EPAS should be about the same as a conventional power steering setup - it's gonna be a workout since it also needs the engine running to supply power assist.
Post *****
Joined: May 13, 2004
Posts: 18,616
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From: Berkeley/Redwood City, CA
Legacy TMS Member
Joined: April 27, 2004
Posts: 5,472
Likes: 65
From: Colorado
I like old school stuff, not for any conspiracy ideas or w/e, I just hate all the computerized stuff. Give me power nothing (other than brakes and steering, lets be reasonable), no computers or sensors or automatic thingamajigs. I want a car that you have to know what you're doing to be able to drive it. People are becoming worse and worse drivers all the time because cars are becoming easier to drive, and that sucks.
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