Here’s another Technology Gone Mad story to scare you. Antivirus companies are researching reports that computer viruses have attacked the onboard computers of cars. Lexus cars may be vulnerable to viruses that infect them via mobile phones. Landcruiser 100 models LX470 and LS430 have been discovered with infected operating systems that transfer within 15 feet.
Some mobile-phone viruses already exist, such as Cabir and Skulls, which spread by Bluetooth and infect handsets based on the Symbian operating system. Many Lexus cars include a navigation system that can connect to a mobile phone over Bluetooth to allow hands-free calls, and Kaspersky says that Bluetooth could be used to transmit a virus to a car's GPS navigation system. It is still unclear which operating system Lexus uses.
"At this stage it's still early but it just goes to show that technology has consequences," said David Emm, senior technology consultant at Kaspersky. "It's scary stuff."
Vulnerable operating systems are increasingly moving onto a number of different devices. Last year the Slammer worm infected 13,000 Bank of America ATMs as a result of them moving to a Windows-based operating system.
"I've even seen screenshots of major commercial aeroplanes with Windows 2000-based operating systems," said Mikko Hypponen, director of anti-virus research at Finnish firm F-Secure. "Cars are an obvious target for viruses. It's okay if you don't use the operating system for the engine and the brakes, but when you do..."
You don't have to go rushing out to install anti-virus software on your cars, but sooner or later most new cars sold are going to have both onboard computers and some sort of wireless connectivity, making them an easy target for hackers and virus writers.
Until two-way wireless transmissions were banned in races, Formula 1 racing cars were equipped with antivirus software to prevent virus attacks on the car's operating system.
Related links
Lexus Website
AV Companies Slam Virus Writer
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