Re: Lexus Landcruiser 100s Are Vulnerable to CellPhone Viruses

Pete
Date: 01/31/05 

Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2005 07:14:42 -0600

"Rob Rosenberger" <us@kumite.com> wrote in message
news:%23XFe1YsBFHA.1084@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> >>I haven't seen Rob post in a while and his POV would be
> >>interesting on this subject matter.
>
> I hear and obey! :-)
>
> Strangely enough, none of my sources called me about this one. And the
> story appeared on Wednesday, yet it didn't capture the kind of media
> attention I expected. Color me baffled.
>
> David Quainton wrote the story in SC Magazine. I regard him as a
skeptical
> reporter and his story looks typical. I don't expect to hear much more
> about this unless somebody shows Quainton some internal documents from
> Lexus.
>
> Based on the media coverage so far, it looks like Kaspersky Labs will
"own"
> this hysteria. Notice Eugene Kaspersky's hullabaloo: "if infected mobile
> devices are scary, just thinking [sic] about an infected onboard
computer."
> KL insists cyber-terrorism will rear its ugly head any day now -- so I
guess
> we can expect Al Qaeda to use RC devices to drive cars into skyscrapers.
>
> "Backseat driver" will take on a whole new meaning! Anyone recall the
movie
> scene where James Bond drives his car entirely by remote control?
>
> Seriously, though...
>
> Lexus will perhaps issue a recall to tighten up the mobile device. The
> (ahem) "threat" will evaporate. Then we'll fret about the next
> vulnerability du jour.
>
> In case you don't know it, the automobile industry routinely recalls its
> products. Multiply a hundred bucks times 100,000 cars and see what you
come
> up with. Yet an auto maker will casually write it off as the cost of
doing
> business. "You mean it receives signals? Lady, that's called a radio.
> Bring it in to the shop, we'll reprogram it for you..."
>
> I just can't get worked up over this. (yawn) I'm off to bed...
>
> Rob
>
>

As an employee of a 3rd tier automotive supplier I can tell you that there
is nothing routine about a recall.
That is not to say that they are infrequent, but hardly routine.
Nothing else sends a cold chill through the heart of anyone in this industry
than the "R" word. The expense to which you refer is generally passed along
to the manufacturer of the component(s) in question.
Ultimately if Lexus were to recall any vehicles for this "vulnerability" the
supplier of the device would be footing the bill, going out of business or
both. 

--
Pete

Relevant Pages

  • Re: high mileage M3
    ... recall done or had the newer design. ... since recently he's mentioned that he bought an E46 325 coupe, ... They have done many cars (and yes early and maybe later ... never said an E36 was not a fun ride. ...
    (alt.autos.bmw)
  • (OT) : Why Did Hillary Marry Bill Clinton ? - I Was Drugged, Dazed And Confused :o)
    ... must become a show for the media. ... Bob, ... Hillary in one of these many "I Don't Recall" Issues ... - - Paid for by the Sworn Truth About Hillary Committee ...
    (rec.radio.shortwave)
  • Re: "Who Killed the Electric Car?" opens July 14th
    ... but the point is you're ignoring the main gripe of the EV1 ... the refusal to sell the existing cars to their leasers is ... GM to recall all of the Mark I version and replace it with an improved ... arguments about GM incompetence, as is the movie. ...
    (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
  • Re: Words you spell right but pronounce wrong
    ... But the train cars didn't need to turn around, ... One of Wisconsin's major industries was paper-making, and I can recall one brand of paper tablets for school use had a magnificent painting of one of the great carferries. ...
    (alt.usage.english)
  • Re: GM to recall 1.5 million autos
    ... It is an OIL LEAK not a FUEL LEAK! ... GM recalls about 1.5 million cars: reports ... The recall includes ...
    (alt.auto.mercedes)