3 ms·
> Second, The likihood that anyone has the time and energy to go and build ECU software and flash it into their car is low. I don't think this is true. There a
by BorgHunter 11y ago
> Second, The likihood that anyone has the time and energy to go and build ECU software and flash it into their car is low.
I don't think this is true. There are plenty of enthusiasts who already do exactly this kind of thing. A friend of mine had an aftermarket ECU installed in his Mustang a few years ago. There's also the (idiotic) phenomenon of rolling coal[0], which also requires at minimum altering some engine tuning parameters in real time. Hackers abound in all walks of life, and this includes auto enthusiasts.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_coal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_coal
- DannyBee 11y agoAltering parameters i can do easily already, with the right cables. DMCA does nothing to prevent this. and as mentioned, you can just replace the ECU if you really want. But i think both of these are significantly easier, and very different, than flashing new software onto the ECU. :)
- BorgHunter 11y agoMy point was simply never to underestimate the ingenuity of clever people working on something cool. If something cool is possible, then no matter how impractical there's probably someone out there interested and dedicated enough to make it work.
- mikeash 11y agoIt's a numbers game. There are always going to be some people who do this, but how many? If 10% of people are hacking their car to violate emissions, that's a problem. If it's one in ten thousand, that's pretty much ignorable. The ultimate goal with emissions control is merely to keep the total down. If a few cars are blowing past the limits it doesn't really affect that.