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Hackers Controlling Cars and Spoofing GPS?

Cyber threats are on the rise. It seems like every day the hacking and stealing of data gets worse. Cyber criminals are getting cleverer, and more advanced all the time. In fact, you’re about to read about a couple of the most interesting cyber crimes we’ve ever heard about. Could you imagine a hacker controlling your vehicle? What about GPS Jamming? Read this article to find out more…

Can Hackers Control Your Car?

Look, if vehicles like the Ford Edge offer 3G network access, a wireless router in the vehicle, and the option to link up with your home Wi-Fi network, why not? Automakers plan to provide wireless access to stream movies and access to the web in the vehicle. By 2013, the FCC-mandated DSRC [Dedicated Short-Range Communications] kicks in and will run at 5.9GHz. This is to provide a vehicle-to-vehicle communication network.

Adding features like this to a moving vehicle could mean trouble. These systems usually tap into a vehicle’s diagnostics and safety mechanisms. Hackers could interfere with the car’s systems and cause an engine surge at the wrong time, or cause a vehicle to break instead of accelerate.

Sound too farfetched to you? Even though no known real-world hacks like this have occurred, security researchers from several top universities have hacked into the computer systems of several late-model vehicles and wreaked havoc. They were able to alter speedometer readings, disable brakes, turn off engines, and lock passengers in the car.

The tests started by plugging directly into a car’s diagnostic system but they later found entry points using the car’s Bluetooth and cellular connections.

The new wireless technology is for use in short-range communication. For example as you pass from one lane to another or as you pass through an intersection. This makes a hack difficult because they will need to be near the vehicle.

The only answer is strong, hardware based encryption models. The DSRC network must undergo complete testing by the car manufacturers as well as the U.S. Department of Transportation to make sure it’s hacker-proof and uses solid encryption.

Jamming and Spoofing of GPS

Is jamming and spoofing more of a nuisance, or a real threat? Mischievous cyber-criminals are working on new tactics like interfering with GPS signals. Some security pros think it’s a big deal, and others think it’s not. Sure, it will be tough to jam a GPS signal at its source. It would require massive counter-transmission to block radio signals from GPS satellites. In fact, if someone messes with those it’s an act of war! Remember; the U.S. military runs the GPS satellites. However, what about a simple receiver?

A cheap jamming device can easily jam a GPS receiver. The devices overload a GPS device by sending it a similar signal until it gets confused. It can’t find a steady satellite transmission. However, this isn’t really a security threat it’s just plain annoying! For example, the hacker sets up a jamming device at an intersection and jams up GPS in passing vehicles. No big deal. Airlines and air traffic control systems use networks with a completely different GPS signal so they’re not in much danger either. One of the main dangers of jamming occurs when hackers tamper with financial records. The banking industry uses time-stamps on financial transactions. A hacker could cause serious tracking problems for a bank. Completely halting transactions would be difficult, but possible.

Spoofing GPS is a bigger threat. A GPS device is a low-powered device. The GPS typically latches to strong signal. If a hacker wanted to he could operate a spoofing signal to a nearby receiver and give it false information.

Criminals could use this technology to perform serious crime. For example, they could route a cargo van or shipping truck to a secluded area with criminals waiting to grab the loot. They could delay emergency vehicles or change
financial transaction timestamps.

Either way, GPS jamming is against FCC regulations and is illegal in the U.S. So, if you suspect jamming or see someone with a jammer, file a police report.

There you have two new threats to our cyber-security. However, if you exercise precaution and keep informed, you should be alright.