Commentary
Researchers Remotely Hack Tesla Model S, Abruptly Brake Moving Car, Open Trunk, Move Seats
- by Chuck Martin , Staff Writer, September 20, 2016
Internet-connected cars, one of the larger promised elements within the Internet of Things, may still have some bugs to be worked out.
Researchers from a Chinese security company say they have remotely tapped into the systems of a Tesla Model S and turned lights on and off, moved seats, opened the sunroof and even shut out the driver from entering the car’s system.
In a blog post by Tencent’s Keen Security Labs, researchers said they discovered multiple security vulnerabilities and implemented remote control of a Tesla Model S in both Parking and Driving mode.
They said the car was unmodified and had the latest Tesla technology installed.
The researchers said they reported the results and technical details to Tesla, which they said was confirmed by the Tesla Product Security Team.
Tesla and Keen Security Lab said it was coordinating with Tesla to fix the issues, based on the blog post.
In a video accompanying the researchers’ blog post, the windshield wipers were remotely activated while the car was being driven.
In addition, the car was remotely braked (rather abruptly, based on the video), and the trunk was opened while the car was being driven.
Tesla has issued and over-the-air security patch for its cars to resolve the issues, according to a statement Tesla issued yesterday.
Chuck Martin is Editor of the AI & IoT Daily at MediaPost and writes the daily Connected Thinking column. He is a NY Times Business bestselling author and his latest book is “Digital Transformation 3.0” (The New Business-to-Consumer Connections of The Internet of Things.) He is CEO of Net Future Institute and a frequent keynote speaker internationally. Follow him on Twitter @chuckmartin and contact him at Chuck@MediaPost.com.
The disasters that will be unleashed by "driverless cars" will be fantastic. In addition to the countless accidents and law suits---which will enrich the lawyers and the insurance companies---think about the comedic aspects. Lazy person gets into an automated car and tells it where to go----but is kidnapped by a hacker. Or lazy person gets into an automated car and tells it to drive to store A only to find that Store B has peempted this instruction and is now the destination. This could make for a very funny series of movies or TV shows to entertain the much larger and saner segment of the public which preferfs to drive its own cars.
ED, you are tracking with me. This is what I call "Amtrack II a train wreck waiting to happen". People think this is about freedom. That is such a crock. What about if you don't pay your insurance, have a warrant, tax lien, child support? You don't thi nk they won't shut your car down? How about who is writing the "moral code" of the cars? A crown Vic with 80 yr old driver , a blow-out , an d a school bus..........who controls what car?? In court, "Your honor I wasn't driving, it was the car"....hmm, who is responsible? The manufacturer, the GPS company, the $10 sensor, what about a fatality, does the car go to jail? hackers will have a field day with this, with the most familiar phrase: "Watch 'is". I will continue to say this is the dumbest idea of the 21st century. So do you really want to give control of your steering wheel, gas and brake pedal, to a pile of plastic circuit boards so you can see what someone had for lunch on Facebook? I'm going to have my way with these cars, because all I have to do is creep over a little, and it will yield to me, making lane changing a breeze. My guess is you will spend most of your "driving time" updating, or finding fixes for the obsolete or hacked systems. Can't wait for the 80,000 semis to be driverless.......................yeah buddy, welcome to Moronville.
Ed and R Mark: Grade AAA
This will be your daily fortune cookie (right from the article)
HMMMMM, another 1/2 Billion accounts hacked at yahoo ????
You would have to be a fool to think that hackers won't have a field day
with self-driving cars.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-yahoo-cyber-idUSKCN11S16P