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

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

#51

Post by bfuller »

MertsA wrote: post #47
cdubzzz wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you watch the video in that article? It doesn't seem to line up at all with the text of the article, oddly. You see the guy for a moment and then the video skips forward and he's sitting in the Jeep with the alarm going off. The alarm appears to have been going for a good couple of minutes. Wouldn't popping the hood also require breaking a window or otherwise getting in the car to pull the release?

Depending on the car the hood can be released from underneath but it's a massive pain and requires contorting arms in unnatural ways.

If you are targeting a specific kind of car, like Jeeps, you can easily create a small device that will bump the hood open quickly and easily.

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

#52

Post by JoeAltmaier »

DaiPlusPlus wrote: post #46
Niten wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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 humidi…

My theory for that is different construction materials: cars built in the 1970s and 1980s become rust-buckets quite easily - but cars built after the mid-1990s use considerably better bodywork materials that don't need specialist care to maintain, especially a lot more plastic. I drive a 2013 Ford Focus and the entire front assembly is plastic - no way that's going to rust or corrode. I'm almost looking forward to se…

Plastic has its own issues. Gets brittle exposed to sunlight. Cracks easy. Scratches very easily. Changes color over time. Can't easily be repaired. My old cars, the plastic parts are worse off than metal ones.

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

#53

Post by dagurp »

hacksonx wrote: post #34
adrianN wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

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

I decided to look for the definition of malware and found several. I think I like Webster's the most. "software designed to interfere with a computer's normal functioning".

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

#54

Post by awqrre »

LeonM wrote: post #37

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 th…

The "amplification attack" would be one of those "mysterious method of stealing a car", no?

https://www.wired.com/2016/03/study-finds-24-car-models-open...

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

#55

Post by varjag »

TamDenholm wrote: post #40
morganvachon wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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).

There's no reason for manual really unless you do races or don't want to pay premium for auto. As I understand, there's no financial disincentive for automatic in America, hence most opt for the most convenient option.

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

#56

Post by Unklejoe »

asimuvPR wrote: post #18
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…

All modern cars have individual coil packs. The way to do it is to intercept the signal to the starter or to the fuel pumps. Both are accessible from the cabin. Older japanese cars are stolen due to the import tuner scene. The older hondas and nissans are easy to steal and sell in parts. A honda B18C engine still costs around $1000. This one is found in third generation acuda integras (gsr model). Even newer ones lik…

Yeah, a GSR around here doesn't last long before getting stolen.

A type R is even shorter lived. People steal those for all sorts of parts. The first one that comes to mind is the 5 lug hubs.

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

#57

Post by Casseres »

varjag wrote: post #55
TamDenholm wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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).

There's no reason for manual really unless you do races or don't want to pay premium for auto. As I understand, there's no financial disincentive for automatic in America, hence most opt for the most convenient option.

The slightly better gas mileage? Though now with CVTs that are computer-controlled, they get better gas mileage than cars with standard/maunual transmissions.

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

#58

Post by Mekkanox »

Casseres wrote: post #57
varjag wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's no reason for manual really unless you do races or don't want to pay premium for auto. As I understand, there's no financial disincentive for automatic in America, hence most opt for the most convenient option.

The slightly better gas mileage? Though now with CVTs that are computer-controlled, they get better gas mileage than cars with standard/maunual transmissions.

For at least a few years now, even conventional "slushbox" automatics get better mileage than a manual transmission when in the same car.

Lower maintenance costs are usually mentioned as an advantage of manual over automatic, but slushboxes have been around for quite a while now. With routine maintenance and average use (meaning no launch control usage or burnouts), both types will last forever.

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

#59

Post by exDM69 »

varjag wrote: post #55
TamDenholm wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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).

There's no reason for manual really unless you do races or don't want to pay premium for auto. As I understand, there's no financial disincentive for automatic in America, hence most opt for the most convenient option.

Not for your ordinary city dwellers, but a manual transmission is nicer if you have to drive in adverse conditions (snow, ice) or tow a trailer in hilly areas, etc.

And it's just more fun to drive when you have complete control of torque going to the wheels under your right foot :)

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

#60

Post by varjag »

exDM69 wrote: post #59
varjag wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's no reason for manual really unless you do races or don't want to pay premium for auto. As I understand, there's no financial disincentive for automatic in America, hence most opt for the most convenient option.

Not for your ordinary city dwellers, but a manual transmission is nicer if you have to drive in adverse conditions (snow, ice) or tow a trailer in hilly areas, etc. And it's just more fun to drive when you have complete control of torque going to the wheels under your right foot :)

I drive an EV now (after years of driving stick). No petrol car comes close in torque control, and it's just two pedals :)
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