Bit of useless information - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Wilksey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2015, 03:39:58 pm
content: I was watching CSI Cyber yesterday and it was the episode aired in the states on Sat / Sun, and it showed a "Car Hacking Tool" made from a Sparkfun GSM module.I did say it was useless information...

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2015, 03:47:45 pm
content: Well, in theory the Ford hacking proof of concept that happened about two or three months ago (maybe longer I don't recall) was done via GSM, I believe they actually used SMS to get control of the CAN bus, but it was a while back so I'm not too sure about any details.I guess they read those articles, maybe they added some poetic license to the facts but it's been done in real life.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2015, 04:12:09 pm
content: Bare board with components on it is not a hacking tool, unless you are in Hollywood. Here a matchbox is classed as a hacking tool, as they put a remote in it to jam your locking the car as you walk away.

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2015, 05:36:52 pm
content: I didn't watch the show, nor I'm going to watch it.Just stating that it's possible to use that module to make a car hacking tool. I guess I didn't expect it was just the module by itself.

author: Wilksey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2015, 11:45:59 pm
content: The "tech" is pretty hideous on the show to be fair, but it's a good way to kill an hour or so.Perhaps on newer cars that "self park" you might be able to take control of the steering wheel, but I don't think that you would be able to on a standard car?!Still, it's just TV! I remember watching 24 and laughing at the IP addresses they had.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2015, 12:13:24 am
content: Quote from: Wilksey on November 10, 2015, 11:45:59 pmI strongly suspect that they (and many other movies and TV shows) use "impossible" IP addresses (addresses with segments > 255) so that they won't get sued or hassled by the owner/user of a REAL address number.In the same way they still use the "555" telephone number prefix. Although apparently now, only a subset of 555- is reserved for "fictitious use".And the rest of the 555-xxxx number range are legitimate assignments (although not necessarily in use).Ref:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/555_(telephone_number)#Real_usage

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2015, 12:18:38 am
content: Drive by wire is a thing and apparently the Infinity Q50 has steer by wire.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drive_by_wireAnd in case you were not aware of this:http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2013/07/24/hackers-reveal-nasty-new-car-attacks-with-me-behind-the-wheel-video/It's just going to get worse before it gets better.

author: Wilksey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2015, 02:22:30 am
content: I knew drive by wire was a thing, I thought steering was on newer cars, quite scary what they can do through the car's network these days!

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2015, 06:05:41 am
content: Quote from: Wilksey on November 10, 2015, 03:39:58 pmI thought the CSI franchise had hit rock bottom on the occasion where somebody was supposed to be electrocuted with a motorcycle battery!Most of the time I can suspend my disbelief,however,& just enjoy the interplay of the various characters."Cyber",however,has no redeeming features----- Patricia Arquette seems to sleep walk through the episodes,the situations are ludicrous in the extreme,with obvious answers to problems ignored "to heighten the drama".When will screenwriters learn that large,important Engineering systems are not solely controlled by computer systems connected to the Internet,where they can be hacked "with ease" by any dumbo with a tablet!(Maybe it's the "tablets" the screenwriters take that makes their scripts so asinine!)They had some "evil genius" controlling an Underground train,to make it crash in one episode!There I was,shouting at the TV ----"Turn off the power,you morons!"Have they never heard of Bloody Great manually tripped Circuit Breakers?

author: Wilksey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2015, 11:30:29 am
content: Shamedly I can't wait to see what BS they will come up with in the next episode, I am a bit sadistic like thatIt's a bit like the "talent" shows (XFactor, <insert country's name>'s got talent), I don't want to see the good ones, I want to see the bad ones that think they are good and their reaction.At least Sparkfun had some free advertising!