We hate to break it to you, but that oh-so-reliable
GPS system that you simply obey each day could eventually lead you down a dark, perilous path. No, we're not referring to the blind faith drivers who throw
caution common sense to the wind and drive directly into
sandpiles and
bodies of water, but a new discovery has found that the unencrypted data that's beamed to drivers everyday via
RDS-TMC navigation systems could be undermined with relative ease. Andrea Barisani, chief security engineer with Italian consultancy Inverse Path, has claimed that the wireless signals could not only be intercepted, but incorrect directions could actually be used to lead motorists into a trap, direct traveling competitors away from a sales presentation, or create a massive
gridlock by instructing the weary working crowd to all take the same "detour" home. It was noted that some firms are already looking into more secure methods of delivering such critical information, and considering the
lessons we've already learned about GPS-addicted drivers, the updates can't come soon enough.
[Thanks,
Andrea B.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
kadajawi @ Mar 31st 2007 2:07PM
Has this guy seen too much Monk? Something like that happened on one episode, though those people hacked the actual navigation system...
S. Brown @ Mar 31st 2007 2:31PM
I can't believe you publicly confessed to watching Monk.
It wouldn't surprise me to hear Norton working on some kind of SatNav firewall, with a healthy price tag of course.
Neebs @ Mar 31st 2007 2:35PM
What do they plan to do? Drive more people into rivers?
Sam @ Mar 31st 2007 2:47PM
It still boggles me that people put blind faith into their nav systems or any map program. Its only meant to assist with navigating; you still have use some thought processes.
cutterex @ Mar 31st 2007 2:52PM
It wasn't just anyone who hacked that navigation system on Monk, it was Dwight Scrute, himself! http://www.tv.com/monk/mr.-monk-goes-to-the-ballgame/episode/252994/summary.html
windral @ Mar 31st 2007 4:52PM
people dont *want* to think. that's why they place so much trust in navigation systems like that. and the less the general public thinks, the more those who do will gain power.
Brendan @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:46AM
Navigation information isn't sent over RDS-TMC. Traffic information is. The worst that could happen would be someone could make you think an approaching road was congested when it wasn't... Everybody panic?
Andrea @ Apr 6th 2007 8:17AM
No, that's indeed not the worst that can happen. Even if we don't send Navigation information, Traffic information can be used to affect the route (sometimes even silently) among other things. Wait for the talk and you'll see that this goes beyond simple pranks or false congestions.