Evolving hackers capable of attacking cars, homes, life

Safe havens from the threat of hackers are increasingly disappearing in a world linked with computers and the Internet. Going beyond penetrating personal computers and computer networks to cause damage, hackers are now capable of attacking the driving of automobiles and various electronic devices at homes, and even human life.

At a computer security conference held in Las Vegas, Nevada, the U.S. in early this month, an interesting demonstration was performed. Charlie Miller, a security research at Twitter, and Chris Valasek, director of security intelligence at IOActive, demonstrated how they can hack automobiles. They displayed a situation wherein a driver completely loses control of his own car. The brake would not work and the driver could not maneuver the steering wheel. What enabled them to control the vehicles from a distance was a single click on the computer. The vehicles used in the demonstration on the day were hybrid cars, including the Toyota Prius. The New York Times said dozens of models that were recently introduced are exposed to the risk of falling into an uncontrollable situation.

Automobile hacking has become a reality primarily due to 10 to 40 microchips installed inside a vehicle. Moreover, the cars come with built-in Bluetooth and wireless tire sensors, plus Telematics, a new concept wireless Internet service that integrates the automobile and wireless communication. It has become possible for a third party to access the Internet installed in the vehicle and manipulate the vehicle as he/she pleases as if it were his/her own.

Automakers and the U.S. government already commissioned Internet security experts to conduct research on how to prevent "automobile hacking" by providing research grants.

Security experts warn that hackers will come to prey on not only automobiles but also homes and even human life in the future. As home security systems and electronic appliances is getting more digitized, hackers are able to easily penetrate homes and secretively monitor every single behavior of the resident using the web camera installed on his/her computer. As a bathroom toilet that can be operated via wireless communication has been introduced, anti-hacking software designed to prevent toilet hacking may need to be installed, the New York Times reported.

Barnaby Jack, widely known as “ethical hacker,” has repeatedly warned that because implantable medical devices, including a cardiac pacemaker, are operated wirelessly, a hacker can claim the patient’s life. Jack announced that he would demonstrate this at the security conference in Las Vegas, but died a sudden death on July 26, about a week prior to the event.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that while hacking has such a dark side, there are a growing number of benign hackers who help local governments struggling due to fiscal difficulties develop various computer programs and applications. The U.S. city of Chicago recently made public 950 sets of information on the city, excluding information related to personal privacy, and requested hackers to develop apps for citizens by using the information packages. Daniel O’Neill, an official with “Smart Chicago Collaborative,” a civic group that seeks to improve urban life using technology, said that hacking often reminds people of stealing credit card numbers, but hackers also have growing opportunities to use hacking skills to benefit a city or country.