Can a Virus Hitch a Ride in Your Car?

The New York Times ^ | March 13, 2005 | Tom Zeller Jr. and Norman Mayersohn

[MississippiMasterpiece]

[brooklin]

There may be viruses in my '67 mustang, but they aren't in the electronics.

[Banjoguy]

..sounds like one of the 'Millenium bug' fear merchants.

[nuconvert]

"rumors that a virus had infected Lexus cars and S.U.V.'s"

Well, that must explain all the accidents, death and destruction done by those nasty SUV's. ;~ )

[Hardastarboard]

an antiskid system, designed to help keep a car from spinning out of control, links sensors in the steering, brakes and throttle, and can effectively seize control from the driver.

The computer takes over my car in an emergency? I don't THINK so. The PC I'm working is untrustworthy as hell just for surfing the net. I'm not trusting my life to a computer to manage my car's steering. Not yet any way.

I will say that when I saw that Microsoft was getting involved in the competition to create auto electronics, the possibility of viruses becomes much more real. You'd have to go to AutoZone to buy anti-virus software if they were involved.

[GBA]

The more we depend upon something, the more vulnerable we become. Cars are one example, but also consider the newer airplanes with all glass cockpits. Almost no mechanical gauges anywhere. All fly-by-wire or fly-by-light controls for all aspects of aircraft control. It's just a matter of time. Not if, but when. It's a common theme in science fiction that will soon be science reality.

Have you ever watched Battlestar Gallactica? The machines, the Cylons, were able to take over because all of the humans' computer systems were linked. When the Cylons attacked, they sent a command over all of the linked computer systems telling them to shut themselves down. Then the Cylons attacked and the humans couldn't defend themselves.

Perhaps the computer virus will be the terrorist's next weapon of choice.

[expat_panama]

We've had 

"My homework assignment was ready but a computer virus erased it"

and 

"I did remember our anniversary honey, but a computer virus said it was tomorrow and not today."

Now it's:

"Why no officer, a computer virus made the car drive too fast."

[Enterprise]

I found a computer cutie!

[ChefKeith]

You just need to wave a rubber chicken over that kind;)

[KevinB]

LOL!

[nightdriver]

This issue should be extended to the much-touted "fly by wire" control systems of modern airliners.

Imagine someone who had been a programmer at an airplane manufacturer turning postal and selling the codes and the method of overriding them to someone like Al-Queda!

They wouldn't even have to be aboard the aircraft to take it over and fly it into a skyscraper somewhere.

"Drive-by wire", or "fly-by-wire" could conceivably have a serious downside.

[Wiz]

It depends on rather the drive-by-wire system is connected to the (car navigation) computer by network and is accessible. It may also depend on the operating system and the computer language it use. If the drive-by-wire is a stand alone system from a network, the chance that it may cause accident is low.

[ConservativeMan55]

LOL!!!!

[Lokibob]

The anti skid system on most cars less than 10 years old does exactly that. It senses when the tires are skidding like on ice or in an emergency, and pumps the brakes, so the driver has steering. Why is this so scary to you? Hell, computers have been flying the airplanes you ride in for the last 20 years.

[Lokibob]

Air traffic control is computer based.

Traffic lights are computer controlled.

[Vaduz]

Or someone will just happen to have something for sale to prevent a autocomputer problem for a SMALL fee.When you want to sell something first you have to create a need to sell the widget.

[Sarajevo]

LOL! I've had several virus's in my Pony also! There was the one that caused all the metal in the trunk area to rot away, the one which won't let me pass 80MPH with a stock 289 and a C-4(that has over 200,000 miles on it), and the virus that makes all the repairs and upgrades so bloody expensive!!!

[HangThemHigh]

I think all of the faulty code is between the ears of certain operators. Lke the interlocks which should inhibit drinking and driving.

[CrazyIvan]

SkyNet has become self-aware and has taken over my Jeep!

[R. Scott]

Yep. One more reason to keep the old cars around.