Wednesday 21 May 2014

Car-Hacking Goes Viral In London

The days when thieves used clothes hangers to break into cars may soon be a thing of the past.
Nearly half the 89,000 vehicles broken into in London last year were hacked with electronic gadgets, according to London’s Metropolitan Police.
The hackers appear to be targeting higher-end cars, which commonly have more than 50 low-powered computers installed on board.
“Car crime is no longer the preserve of the opportunist but a more targeted activity towards prestige brands which are stolen to order,” said Andrew Smith, managing director at Cobra UK.
Thieves are hacking into these on-board computers using cell-phone-sized electronic devices originally designed for locksmiths.
One of the most prevalent of these devices can trick a car – “spoofing” – into thinking the owner’s electronic key is present by using radio transmitters that intercept key signals. Another type of hacking device can gain access to a car’s on-board diagnostic unit remotely, which allows thieves to program a blank key to control the engine control unit.
The whole operation takes less than 10 seconds.
The devices can apparently be purchased on the internet, primarily from websites located in Bulgaria, according to Sky News.  Video tutorials for using the device are also available online.
car-hacking-device
Picture of an electronic car-hacking device.
Meanwhile, in February, security experts in Spain created a device that can bypass any encryption on a car before running malicious code through the vehicle’s system.
The so-called “CAN Hacking Tool (CHT)” allows hackers to control lights, locks, steering and brake systems.  The price tag: $20.b

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