Hackers' threat to Formula 1 cars.

[s0nIc]

Formula 1 drivers could come under attack from malicious hackers while at the wheel following a decision to allow teams to make changes to cars remotely during a race.

Formula 1's governing body, the FIA, has voted to let teams use bi-directional telemetry technology, which has been banned since 1993.

The technology allows trackside technicians to tweak the car electronically and send remote commands via a microwave link to the car, reports French F1 magazine Sport Auto Moto.

The driver then chooses to acknowledge the changes, which can affect traction control and fuel consumption, by pressing a button on his steering wheel.

However, some team chiefs are concerned that malicious hackers could sabotage cars while they are racing at speeds of over 200mph.

Williams team chief operations engineer Sam Michael told Sport Auto Moto: "If your system isn't coded properly, you could potentially have a situation where it receives false messages.

"If that happens, the biggest danger you face is a change on the engine side - detonating the engine."

Source:

http://www.blackcode.com

[KorpDeath]

They actually approved that for use? Unbelievable.

[SDK]

Hacking live on World Wide TV! How many hacker are gonna try this?

[Geric]

The worlds fastest remote control car.

[thesecretfire]

I don't really see how one could "hack" this, just sounds like paranoia to me... (Me calling something too paranoid...now that's gotta make you think)

[rcgreen]

I worked in the car repair business for a number
of years, and tried to keep up on technology.
Today,(in the USA), cars must meet pollution
regulations, and in many states you must
take your car in periodically for an emissions
test.

These tests are a real pain in the butt for
consumers, involving a tailpipe probe, and also
if I remember correctly, some places require
a dynamometer test. The equipment in expensive
too.

Technology to the rescue:

Government regulators foresee a new method,
involving the car's on-board computer.
Since the on-board computer constantly
monitors the engine, it can record whether the
emissions are in compliance.

The first stage of this new regime would,
still require you to go for the periodic emissions
test, but would be quicker and more convenient
because the tester would only need to connect
to the data link under the dashboard and
download the data.

The next stage, the sci-fi part, a police officer
could sit on the side of the road, query your computer
by radio and instantly know if your pollution
system is malfunctioning.

The NEXT stage, (the paranoia part), eventually, they could
remotely shut down your engine.
No more high speed chases!

It's all technologically feasible, just a matter of
whether it's cost effective, and politically acceptable.

[s0nIc]

*quicky hides a remote controll behind his back and smiles * heheh
wwaaahh???

[souleman]

This is almost insane. I don't know many people that would actually try this. At least if they thought ahead they wouldn't. I mean yeah, it could be the untimate hack to take over someones car as they were driving on TV, but you are now leaving the realm of hack/crack. You are actually putting a persons life at risk. One wrong command, and instead of crashing a computer, you crash a car doing 200+ MPH with a human being inside.

[rcgreen]

Originally posted here by souleman
One wrong command, and instead of crashing a computer, you crash a car doing 200+ MPH with a human being inside.

...or blow up a space shuttle.

[Terr]

I've said it many times before, and I'll say it again, the best protection is the laws of physics. Do not leave it up to software! If there is an 'accept' switch, make it physically impossible (barring spontaneous arcs of electricity within the circuit) for automated changes to occur when the switch is not pressed!