the car search - troubling beginnings

As I have been passively on the hunt for a new-to-me car since the beginning of the year, a comment on a radio show about the possibility of new cars being hacked caught my attention.  The car expert said that, because of the addition of a multiplicity of apps, the computers in today's cars are not secure.  In fact, it would be possible for someone to crash your car while you are in it, and you would be unable to stop that.

Um, hello?!?! That's terrifying!

I didn't get to hear the whole program, so later I decided to do some research via the Google.  I was surprised by the dearth of information that I found.  It seemed that almost no one was talking or writing or blogging about this.  The only article I found that seemed to directly address any problems with having so many apps in our lives was this one, actually an excerpt from a book decrying our "love affair'" with the app.  It's a really good read, and the whole "13 Steps to Opening Your Car with Your Phone" section just takes the cake!

That was a few months ago.

Today, I decided to try to find that article again, and also see if any one else might be starting to discuss the issue.  I was glad to see a few more articles come up, and so I thought I should pass them on.  

Warning: it isn't pretty!

Report Sees Weak Security in Cars’ Wireless Systems  This report, published in February, is probably what brought about that conversation on the radio that I heard around that time.   This article focuses on the data collected by automakers via 3rd party companies, but also mentions that "connecting cars to the Internet means that more vehicles have smartphonelike interfaces that allow for new possibilities, but also carry inherent risks."

Spy agencies target mobile phones, app stores to implant spyware  An article posted today from CBC News in Canada.  Another article on the same issue can be found here.

Phone apps can track you "Many of my customers come into Cell Phone Technicians and say, 'What's being tracked?' The answer is everything."

So, yeah.  I like my smartphone, but I'm not sure I trust it, and I definitely want to avoid the apps in a new-to-me car... if I can!