The Saftey Feature You Don't Know You Want

           Two weeks ago I discussed how cars are getting more and more advanced, and I figured I continue on that topic…but on the other end of it. As cars continue to get more advanced with all these new safety features, are they actually becoming more susceptible to certain dangers? Well one US senator says so. In his report, he states that virtually all “connected cars” on the road are vulnerable to hackers who could steal data or gain control of the vehicle.  The study found “security weaknesses in nearly 100 percent of cars on the market” and noted that most automobile manufactures were “unaware of or unable to report on past hacking incidents.” So if you’re out there driving a car, now you have to be extra carful because we all know how driving isn’t dangerous enough as is. Luckily for me the worst they could do is mess with my headlights or if they dare be this cruel, mess with the radio station; props to my 2006 Mazda. Unfortunately if you are one of the many people who own a newer model car, the dangers you are facing could be much worse.

            When analyzing data from 16 major auto manufactures, they were able to show how hackers could get into the controls of some of popular vehicles. Once the hackers had controls, they were able to turn, suddenly accelerate, de-activate brakes, control headlights, use the horn, modify gas gauge readings, and lastly, modify the speedometer. Just to top things off, hackers were also able to gather data on driving, ranging from average speeds to locations on your GPS.

            So in how many ways is your vehicle in danger from hackers, more then you would expect.  Hackers would gain access to a vehicle through Bluetooth wireless connections, the OnStar system for remote assistance, malware in a smartphone that is paired with the vehicle, or an infected CD in the car sound system. What is even worse is that “manufactures appeared to take little or no action following disclosures from researchers in 2013 and 2014 about these vulnerabilities.” This just goes to show there is a clear lack of appropriate security measures to protect drivers against hackers.

            How do the automobile companies decide to go about that, the easiest way possibly: a disclaimer you must consent to. Two major automobile manufactures in light of this issued a voluntary set of privacy principles by which their members have agreed to abide by but said it was not clear how these principles would be interpreted.

            One of the biggest issues I see with this is in regards to the looming arrival of the self-driving smart car. Are the dangers that come with self-driving car worth the leisure and convenience that it will provide? Imagine it is 2 years from now and you call up you Smart Uber (they can thank me for the name later).  Your personal self-driving chauffeur pulls up to your door, you get in, plug in the address, and away you go to your favorite restaurant. As the restaurant appears in view, you prepare yourself to leave but “CLICK” all the doors lock and you speed by the restaurant.  The car keeps driving, you’re confused, and have no way of getting out until you find yourself in an abandoned parking lot getting robbed at gun point by the 2 criminals who just used the Smart Uber as their own personal chauffeur to deliver you right to them. 

            I know that is a worst-case scenario, but there isn’t much stopping that from happening right now. My question is when will car companies start looking at hacking as a safety feature too. I do enjoy all 12 airbags and 8 rearview cameras they put in the newer cars but that doesn’t really help with my safety if I am being personally delivered to someone who is going to rob me.  Maybe in the next few years one of the standard safety features will be anti hacking software but who knows because as of now, not much has been done in these regards.