5 ms·

Computers get hacked evey now and then, I predict software assassinations in the future, i.e. somebody hacks into a self-driving car, installs a software compon

Computers get hacked evey now and then, I predict software assassinations in the future, i.e. somebody hacks into a self-driving car, installs a software component which will be activated at some point (i.e. when it identifies a specific car/human and crash into it). Then it can auto-destruct, no evidence left. I ask, who will be responsible?

piyush_soni 13y ago
Probably find the hacker? Just like what we do right now ...
- DasIch 13y ago
  You are assuming detecting manipulation is straightforward or even possible. What if someone is able to MITM software updates?
  - piyush_soni 13y ago
    I'm not assuming it's possible or feasible. I'm saying the problems are the same even as of today - it's difficult even now. Of course, hackers capabilities will increase, but same goes with those who are trying to catch them. Eventually, everyone will be monitored though ... And apparently US govt. has already started doing that ...
- conductor 13y ago
  Here are my analyses: When somebody hacks into one's computer, he can't do any physical harm, he sure can steal money, spy on the victim, but he can't make the computer burn or somehow harm the victim. The computers that can be used for doing real damage (i.e. bomb activation, drone command and control centre, etc.) are well protected from the hackers (not connected to the internet and physicall inaccessable). Controrary to this, the self-driving cars are potentially dangerous and will be widely accessable and hackable, I see this as a real problem. We should not allow a computer to do things that can kill people, and a computer-driven car can kill people.
  - shreyansj 13y ago
    > We should not allow a computer to do things that can kill people Should we not allow computers (auto-pilot) to fly airplanes?
    - conductor 13y ago
      Though your example is not the best (pilots are still there and can disable the auto-pilot and drive in the manual mode) I will correct myself: I think we should now allow computers, which can be easily accessed and potentially altered/hacked, to do things that can kill people.
      - piyush_soni 13y ago
        The thing is, computers as of today are dangerous enough already, and depending on which ones you hack can cause enough destruction as of today. So of course, security is important for all of them and I'm sure Google's self-driving car will do something to be as secure as they can.
      - freebullets 13y ago
        >pilots are still there and can disable the auto-pilot If the computer decides to allow the pilot to do that.
      - nwh 13y ago
        Most Boeing 747 craft run a very old, unpatched version of Solaris. Someone with user access could almost certainly crash a plane using that. The same holds true for a lot of consumer goods running embedded linux. Even my damn TV has vulnerabilities.
  - signed0 13y ago
    While we're at it, we should probably prevent people from doing things that can kill people.
  - ceejayoz 13y ago
    > We should not allow a computer to do things that can kill people, and a computer-driven car can kill people. Your car's computer already has control of throttle, brakes, door locks, etc.
rodgerd 13y ago
People have already demonstrated this capability with modern human-driven cars. The only way you can avoid that would be to remove electronics from card to get back to a 1960s level. The loss of ABS, traction control, and engine management systems would likely kill more people than any phantom assassination threat ever will.

piyush_soni 13y ago

Probably find the hacker? Just like what we do right now ...

DasIch 13y ago
You are assuming detecting manipulation is straightforward or even possible. What if someone is able to MITM software updates?
- piyush_soni 13y ago
  I'm not assuming it's possible or feasible. I'm saying the problems are the same even as of today - it's difficult even now. Of course, hackers capabilities will increase, but same goes with those who are trying to catch them. Eventually, everyone will be monitored though ... And apparently US govt. has already started doing that ...
conductor 13y ago
Here are my analyses: When somebody hacks into one's computer, he can't do any physical harm, he sure can steal money, spy on the victim, but he can't make the computer burn or somehow harm the victim. The computers that can be used for doing real damage (i.e. bomb activation, drone command and control centre, etc.) are well protected from the hackers (not connected to the internet and physicall inaccessable). Controrary to this, the self-driving cars are potentially dangerous and will be widely accessable and hackable, I see this as a real problem. We should not allow a computer to do things that can kill people, and a computer-driven car can kill people.
- shreyansj 13y ago
  > We should not allow a computer to do things that can kill people Should we not allow computers (auto-pilot) to fly airplanes?
  - conductor 13y ago
    Though your example is not the best (pilots are still there and can disable the auto-pilot and drive in the manual mode) I will correct myself: I think we should now allow computers, which can be easily accessed and potentially altered/hacked, to do things that can kill people.
    - piyush_soni 13y ago
      The thing is, computers as of today are dangerous enough already, and depending on which ones you hack can cause enough destruction as of today. So of course, security is important for all of them and I'm sure Google's self-driving car will do something to be as secure as they can.
    - freebullets 13y ago
      >pilots are still there and can disable the auto-pilot If the computer decides to allow the pilot to do that.
    - nwh 13y ago
      Most Boeing 747 craft run a very old, unpatched version of Solaris. Someone with user access could almost certainly crash a plane using that. The same holds true for a lot of consumer goods running embedded linux. Even my damn TV has vulnerabilities.
- signed0 13y ago
  While we're at it, we should probably prevent people from doing things that can kill people.
- ceejayoz 13y ago
  > We should not allow a computer to do things that can kill people, and a computer-driven car can kill people. Your car's computer already has control of throttle, brakes, door locks, etc.

rodgerd 13y ago

People have already demonstrated this capability with modern human-driven cars. The only way you can avoid that would be to remove electronics from card to get back to a 1960s level. The loss of ABS, traction control, and engine management systems would likely kill more people than any phantom assassination threat ever will.