Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Vehicular hacking

There's been much talk recently of new rules of engagement for state-sanctioned cyberwarfare, and in particular of a new definition of the nation state for the digital age.

One of the topics discussed at the conference was the possibility that hackers could soon turn to messing with the on-board computing systems incorporated into a new generation of motor vehicles. Such attacks could cause minor inconveniences such as re-routing you by modifying your GPS coordinates, or more serious setbacks such as turning off the engine when the car is moving at high speed. Some informed commentators have even suggested that fires or even explosions could be effected via cyberwarfare techniques. It may never happen, but attention all screenwriters, eh?

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