FBI issues safety warning to auto makers on vehicle software security

Posted:
in General Discussion
The FBI this week sent out a warning to car makers and owners, alerting them to potential security holes in automotive software, all while still pushing Apple to create a method to break into securely encrypted iPhones.




In a public service announcement published this week, the FBI and national Highway Traffic Safety Administration alerted both car manufacturers and the general public that they should be aware of cyber security threats to vehicle software.

The warning is largely in response to exploits publicized by Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek, who last year successfully hacked into a Jeep Cherokee from more than 10 miles away. Miller and Valasek were able to remotely disable the Jeep's accelerator while adjusting the air conditioning, radio and windshield wipers.

The whitepaper produced by Miller and Valasek was cited by the FBI in this week's warning, noting that almost 1.5 million vehicles were recalled as a result of the findings. As a result, the bureau has asked manufacturers of vehicles, components and aftermarket devices "to maintain awareness of potential issues and cybersecurity threats related to connected vehicle technologies in modern vehicles."




While the FBI pushes the auto industry to improve the security of its software, Apple has accused the law enforcement agency of attempting to forcefully weaken its own iOS platform for iPhone. In Apple's view, the U.S. government is attempting to force the company to create a new operating system, which it has dubbed "GovtOS," that would allow officials to crack into any securely locked iPhone.

Apple's concern is that the creation of a "GovtOS" would lead to dangerous security flaws on mobile devices, which could allow hackers to remotely control or extract information from a device. Of course, that's exactly the kind of exploits the FBI is also looking to stop with its warning to automakers this week.

Last month, a U.S. magistrate judge ordered Apple to comply with an FBI request to assist investigators in unlocking an iPhone 5c linked to last year's San Bernardino terrorist shooting. The government needs Apple engineers to create and sign a flawed operating system that would suppress the iPhone's passcode counter and passcode entry limited, allowing a brute-force attack to unlock the device.

Apple is resisting the court order, and will face off in court with the Department of Justice next Tuesday, one day after the company will hold a media presentation to announce a new 4-inch iPhone and 9.7-inch iPad.

Auto security is also of interest to Apple, as the company builds the CarPlay infotainment system utilized by automakers and aftermarket head unit manufacturers. The company is also believed to be working on its own top-secret auto initiative dubbed "Project Titan."
Kevin Bohacz
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 42
    boltsfan17boltsfan17 Posts: 2,294member
    Wow, how ironic. So the FBI is warning about security threats while at the same time, they are trying to ruin security for everyone. That makes a lot of sense. 
    SoliSpamSandwichbaconstangcalijbdragontallest skilpalominestevehdysamoriajustadcomics
  • Reply 2 of 42
    fracfrac Posts: 480member
    Say what?
  • Reply 3 of 42
    9secondkox29secondkox2 Posts: 2,663member
    And to think... CarPlay would be safe if not for that whole FBI acting like communists and demanding a backdoor thing...
    calijbdragon
  • Reply 4 of 42
    Encryption case over with this story. All Apple has to do is show this story to the judge next week and the whole case will likely get thrown out.
    edited March 2016 jbdragon
  • Reply 5 of 42
    This has been in the news for months and here we have the FBI giving Manufacturers and owners a 'warning'.  I think the FBI needs a Marketing firm to help them with their press releases and fading public image.
    latifbpjbdragondysamoria
  • Reply 6 of 42
    red oakred oak Posts: 1,087member
    LOL.  What a joke 
  • Reply 7 of 42
    ceek74ceek74 Posts: 324member
    HA HA HA!!  Wait until someone remotes a car into a crowd of people.  Oh wait, fwiw: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/footage-inside-isis-bomb-factory-7123547
    calijbdragon
  • Reply 8 of 42
    Until a vehicle is used in an act of terrorism, then they'll need you to open it up to see what other useful info it might have.
    volcancalijbdragondysamoriacornchip
  • Reply 9 of 42
    jungmarkjungmark Posts: 6,926member
    Wait until a dormant cyber pathogen is released. 

    Still I think this flaw is useful for the FBI in case a criminal was driving one of these cars. 
    palominejustadcomics
  • Reply 10 of 42
    mac_128mac_128 Posts: 3,454member
    Apple is resisting the court order, and will face off in court with the Department of Justice next Tuesday, one day after the company will hold a media presentation to announce a new 4-inch iPhone and 9.7-inch iPad.
    Well thank god Apple will have something important to discuss at their "event" since the rumors so far about a 4" phone, iPad upgrade, and new watch bands, have been far from compelling ...


    I really hope Apple will be able to throw this tone-deaf move back at the government. 
  • Reply 11 of 42
    FBI: Oh crap....do you think we can retract this story? Forgot all about the Apple case next week.
    baconstangcalijony0roakecornchip
  • Reply 12 of 42
    irelandireland Posts: 17,798member
    Hahahahahahahahahahaha.
    tallest skiljustadcomics
  • Reply 13 of 42
    onlyhope said:
    This has been in the news for months and here we have the FBI giving Manufacturers and owners a 'warning'.  I think the FBI needs a Marketing firm to help them with their press releases and fading public image.
    It's almost like after years of watching all these FBI shows on TV with their high tech computer labs and specialists, the real FBI decided they should hire their first real computer guy and start acting all techie. 
    cali
  • Reply 14 of 42
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member
    mac_128 said:
    Apple is resisting the court order, and will face off in court with the Department of Justice next Tuesday, one day after the company will hold a media presentation to announce a new 4-inch iPhone and 9.7-inch iPad.
    Well thank god Apple will have something important to discuss at their "event" since the rumors so far about a 4" phone, iPad upgrade, and new watch bands, have been far from compelling ...


    I really hope Apple will be able to throw this tone-deaf move back at the government. 
    I doubt they'd mention this, it has no bearing on their trial despite the ironic juxtaposition of stories.
  • Reply 15 of 42
    volcanvolcan Posts: 1,799member
    Until a vehicle is used in an act of terrorism, then they'll need you to open it up to see what other useful info it might have.
    Anytime you combine technology and crime you create a conflict of interest. Outlaw guns and only criminals will have guns. Outlaw encryption and only criminals will have encryption. I'm sure law enforcement would love to have a kill switch to be used in high speed chases but criminals would hack it and disable your car so they can rob you.
    baconstangbdkennedy1002calijbdragon
  • Reply 16 of 42
    The next FBI court order to Apple:

    "Write a 1-time GovCarPlay that lets us control the steering  wheel of a terrorist's car and drive it off a cliff."
    calijbdragonjustadcomicsjony0roake
  • Reply 17 of 42
    baconstangbaconstang Posts: 1,103member
    The more I read about 'connected cars' the longer I'm keeping my 2002 Focus. (With manual everything.)
    dysamoria
  • Reply 18 of 42
    The more I read about 'connected cars' the longer I'm keeping my 2002 Focus. (With manual everything.)
    Exactly. Reading this makes me think we have gone insane.

    I knew things were on a slippery slope when my partner's Focus had put itself into "slow" mode and the repair guy arrived, plugged in his diagnostic equipment and said he could do anything because we had the old version of the software! Too old to get an update to the latest  ... 
    calijbdragon
  • Reply 19 of 42
    fallenjtfallenjt Posts: 4,053member
    onlyhope said:
    This has been in the news for months and here we have the FBI giving Manufacturers and owners a 'warning'.  I think the FBI needs a Marketing firm to help them with their press releases and fading public image.
    It's almost like after years of watching all these FBI shows on TV with their high tech computer labs and specialists, the real FBI decided they should hire their first real computer guy and start acting all techie. 
    And I officially stop watching Quantico! BS too much FBI.
  • Reply 20 of 42
    redefilerredefiler Posts: 323member
    Considering the FBI's original mission was to stop bootleggers when they crossed state lines, shouldn't they just be eliminated and states' police allowed to share justification with interstate crime?

    The FBI has a terrible history, and their public reputation was crafted thru Hollywood productions (of which they've helped encourage or sponsor).  They suck at investigation, abysmal on active crime scenes, and almost completely redundant.  People complain about military spending, but we already enough layers of domestic law enforcement, let's save everyone a couple nickels and a lot hassle for these federal cops without a purpose.
    calijbdragon
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