Car Thieves Arrested After Using Laptop and Malware to Steal More Than 30 Jeeps • Hacker News Board

Re: Car Thieves Arrested After Using Laptop and Malware to Steal More Than 30 Jeeps

#31

Post by ehnto » Sat, Aug 06, 2016, 8:51 AM UTC

chrissnell wrote: post #10

icantdrive55 wrote: post #6

If your poor, like myself, and want to slow down a car thief, put in a kill switch. Run the proper gague wire from the primary on the coil to a switch in the cab. The primary wires are the small wires on the coil. (I can't think of any reason the ECU would throw a trouble code.) It gets more complicated if you have a separate distributor running to each cylinder, but there's always a point in the electrical system yo…

There's a cleaner way. You can use a battery terminal disconnect directly on the battery: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001N729FS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_p1xP... Personally, I drive an old diesel truck and it's as simple as disconnecting the fuel cut-off solenoid wire from the solenoid. Old diesels like mine are terrifically simple and really only have two wires: the starter positive lead and the fuel cut-off lead. The cut-o…

That won't work, my car had those on both terminals and the battery was flat. They brought their own battery and rigged it all back up. It might stop an opportunist doing his first theft though.

Re: Car Thieves Arrested After Using Laptop and Malware to Steal More Than 30 Jeeps

#32

Post by morganvachon » Sat, Aug 06, 2016, 9:12 AM UTC

icantdrive55 wrote: post #6

If your poor, like myself, and want to slow down a car thief, put in a kill switch. Run the proper gague wire from the primary on the coil to a switch in the cab. The primary wires are the small wires on the coil. (I can't think of any reason the ECU would throw a trouble code.) It gets more complicated if you have a separate distributor running to each cylinder, but there's always a point in the electrical system yo…

I have a great theft deterrent on my truck and Bronco II: Manual transmission. Most people in my area under 25 years old don't have a clue how to start or drive one, and the Bronco won't let you start it without the clutch disengaged (so no push starting).

Of course, this varies by location; I'm in the US where manuals are being phased out[1]. When I was growing up it was the other way around; you had to request (and pay more for) an automatic if you didn't want the "standard" transmission.

[1] http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/manual-transmissions-a...

Re: Car Thieves Arrested After Using Laptop and Malware to Steal More Than 30 Jeeps

#33

Post by morganvachon » Sat, Aug 06, 2016, 9:16 AM UTC

ibarrajo wrote: post #25

chrissnell wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a cleaner way. You can use a battery terminal disconnect directly on the battery: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001N729FS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_p1xP... Personally, I drive an old diesel truck and it's as simple as disconnecting the fuel cut-off solenoid wire from the solenoid. Old diesels like mine are terrifically simple and really only have two wires: the starter positive lead and the fuel cut-off lead. The cut-o…

Please don't do this if your car has oxygen sensors, a catalytic converter or fuel injectors (basically all cars 1980+) Why? Besides polluting more you're going to reset the car's ECU and it takes a few drive cycles in different conditions to properly tune the engine. There are so many things that can affect the tuning, engine wear, fuel quality even the barometric pressure. If the car can't learn that (because it's…

Yeah, I'm in favor of a fuel pump disable switch instead. Any passenger car with fuel injection will have an electric or electronic fuel pump, and splicing in a switch is fairly simple. Hide the switch where it's out of sight but easy to access by the owner and Bob's your uncle.

Re: Car Thieves Arrested After Using Laptop and Malware to Steal More Than 30 Jeeps

#34

Post by hacksonx » Sat, Aug 06, 2016, 9:27 AM UTC

adrianN wrote: post #26

duskwuff wrote: post #5

"And malware "? Sounds like the only piece of software involved was the one the thieves were using, and it was doing exactly what it was supposed to.

Malware also does exactly what's it supposed to do.

Yep. It just has malicious intent, but that's the intent.

Re: Car Thieves Arrested After Using Laptop and Malware to Steal More Than 30 Jeeps

#35

Post by Niten » Sat, Aug 06, 2016, 9:29 AM UTC

a3n wrote: post #8

icantdrive55 wrote: post #6

If your poor, like myself, and want to slow down a car thief, put in a kill switch. Run the proper gague wire from the primary on the coil to a switch in the cab. The primary wires are the small wires on the coil. (I can't think of any reason the ECU would throw a trouble code.) It gets more complicated if you have a separate distributor running to each cylinder, but there's always a point in the electrical system yo…

> (I have noticed a lot of old Japanese vehicles being stolen in the Bay Area. Go figure?) Parts? Old Japanese cars are still on the road, running well. My son is driving my original purchase 1990 Honda.

> Old Japanese cars are still on the road, running well. My son is driving my original purchase 1990 Honda.

I recently moved out to the Bay Area from south Florida, and one thing that really struck me was how many y2k-ish cars were on the road looking practically new. I think it's mostly a matter of climate.

I would have loved to keep my 2000 Integra on the road, but the unholy combination of Florida's sun and humidity brought an early death to its paint, body, grommets and bushings. In contrast, I regularly see Integras in the Bay Area that look as though they could have rolled out of the factory five years ago.

Re: Car Thieves Arrested After Using Laptop and Malware to Steal More Than 30 Jeeps

#36

Post by dannycode » Sat, Aug 06, 2016, 9:38 AM UTC

ehnto wrote: post #30

icantdrive55 wrote: post #6

If your poor, like myself, and want to slow down a car thief, put in a kill switch. Run the proper gague wire from the primary on the coil to a switch in the cab. The primary wires are the small wires on the coil. (I can't think of any reason the ECU would throw a trouble code.) It gets more complicated if you have a separate distributor running to each cylinder, but there's always a point in the electrical system yo…

Funny you mention old Japanese cars, as mine was stolen (and subsequently found) just a few days ago. 90's era Japanese cars are notoriously easy to steal, and the only thing that stopped them was the immobiliser kicking back on. When they initially took it, the immobiliser was off thanks to a mistake on my part, but it automatically re-activates when the car is turned off. To get it home after it was found, I actual…

Great discovery i love it

Re: Car Thieves Arrested After Using Laptop and Malware to Steal More Than 30 Jeeps

#37

Post by LeonM » Sat, Aug 06, 2016, 9:51 AM UTC

Every once in awhile one of these articles pop up on a news site. People (read: non-technical audience) seem to enjoy reading about a mysterious method of stealing a car, detecting your laptop/ipad in the trunk, tricking an ATM to give free money, hacking your phone, etc, etc.

Reality is that this kind of theft never is as straightforward as the article tells you. In this case it required the thieves to break into the car first, then reprogram the key. The thief can't just walk up to the car and type some magic commands on a laptop and drive of. It requires him to break the lock/door/glass to get in first. That's about the same as how car theft was done in the early years: break in, hotwire the ignition, (bump)start the car. This "new" method even requires more time than hotwiring, so car manufacturers did actually make their cars harder to steal in some sense...

Re: Car Thieves Arrested After Using Laptop and Malware to Steal More Than 30 Jeeps

#38

Post by Eston8 » Sat, Aug 06, 2016, 9:58 AM UTC

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Re: Car Thieves Arrested After Using Laptop and Malware to Steal More Than 30 Jeeps

#39

Post by blt » Sat, Aug 06, 2016, 10:09 AM UTC

ehnto wrote: post #30

icantdrive55 wrote: post #6

If your poor, like myself, and want to slow down a car thief, put in a kill switch. Run the proper gague wire from the primary on the coil to a switch in the cab. The primary wires are the small wires on the coil. (I can't think of any reason the ECU would throw a trouble code.) It gets more complicated if you have a separate distributor running to each cylinder, but there's always a point in the electrical system yo…

Funny you mention old Japanese cars, as mine was stolen (and subsequently found) just a few days ago. 90's era Japanese cars are notoriously easy to steal, and the only thing that stopped them was the immobiliser kicking back on. When they initially took it, the immobiliser was off thanks to a mistake on my part, but it automatically re-activates when the car is turned off. To get it home after it was found, I actual…

I can start my '91 Toyota with the nail file on a swiss army knife.

Re: Car Thieves Arrested After Using Laptop and Malware to Steal More Than 30 Jeeps

#40

Post by TamDenholm » Sat, Aug 06, 2016, 10:14 AM UTC

morganvachon wrote: post #32

icantdrive55 wrote: post #6

If your poor, like myself, and want to slow down a car thief, put in a kill switch. Run the proper gague wire from the primary on the coil to a switch in the cab. The primary wires are the small wires on the coil. (I can't think of any reason the ECU would throw a trouble code.) It gets more complicated if you have a separate distributor running to each cylinder, but there's always a point in the electrical system yo…

I have a great theft deterrent on my truck and Bronco II: Manual transmission. Most people in my area under 25 years old don't have a clue how to start or drive one, and the Bronco won't let you start it without the clutch disengaged (so no push starting). Of course, this varies by location; I'm in the US where manuals are being phased out[1]. When I was growing up it was the other way around; you had to request (and…

Yeah i find it bizarre just how many automatics are in America, here in the UK, the only people who drive automatics are people who have difficulty mastering the skill of standard driving (ie a manual).