More gadgets - more vulnerability
Any mechanic who came of age in the 1960s and 1970s will tell you that modern cars are not like everything they have learned to work on, they are so packed with computers that they seem more like an IT geek's realm than a greasy monkey. And it is certainly true that there are many computers in modern cars, although in general they are not quite the same as PCs. “In cars, processors are much simpler than home computers and are designed to perform simple, specialized tasks,” said Cameron Camp, a researcher at ESET, a technology security company.
Indeed, most cars today have numerous so-called “embedded systems”, which are small computers that control very specific aspects of a car's functioning, such as airbag deployment, cruise control, anti-lock brakes, and power seats. Although these embedded systems have the same architecture as PCs — they use hardware, software, memory, and a processor — they are more like a smartphone than a laptop in complexity. Car computers were more or less protected from hackers and viruses because, unlike PCs, external computers or humans had few ways to connect to car computers.
In general, the introduction of the virus required physical control of the vehicle. “In the past, this would have been difficult because the only way to access a car's computer is through the manufacturer's diagnostic or programming equipment,” says Robert Hills, senior education program manager at the Universal Institute of Technology, which specializes in technical training. and training for the automotive industry. In other words, it would require the mechanic to inject the virus through the computer or software used to diagnose the problem with the car.
Arye Gorecki, another ESET researcher, said the development of viruses for many vehicles is also costly due to the lack of standardization of hardware, software and protocols. “This will make it difficult for an attacker to attack multiple brands and models of cars at the same time,” he says.
But vulnerability to hacking and viruses is growing as car computers become more connected to the outside world. “As more and more cars are interfaced with websites like Pandora and even Facebook, cars are getting two-way communication and are therefore inherently more vulnerable,” says Cas Mollien, information and communications technology strategist at Bazic Blue. With the advent of more entertainment and communication devices, including MP3 and iPod adapters and USB ports, there are more channels for viruses to potentially enter the car.
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