“My Car Has A Virus . . .”

. . . that’s what you may be saying in a few years.

Technofolks are concerned that the computer virus problem will begin spreading rapidly among computer-chip-implanted devices including cell phones and automobiles:

Watch out for viruses that spread to mobile phones, handheld computers, wireless networks and embedded computers which are increasingly used to run basic automobile functions, the 2004 year-end "Security Threats and Attack Trends Report" report warns. Then again, the readiness of individuals and companies to confront these challenges has also evolved, the study said.

IBM’s report draws on data from 500,000 electronic devices.

It details a range of challenges that computer users faced in 2004 and extrapolates from early warning signs what sort of new threats electronics users are likely to face this year.

Known computer viruses grew by 28,327 in 2004 to bring the number of old and new viruses to 112,438, the report said. In 2002, only 4,551 new viruses were discovered.

Of 147 billion e-mails scanned by IBM for customers in 2004, one in 16, or 6 percent, contained a virus. During 2002, just 0.5 percent of e-mail scanned had viruses.

The average amount of spam circulating on global networks was 75 percent, the survey found. But during peak periods, spam accounted for as much as 95 percent of e-mail traffic.

As the average new car runs 20 computer processors and about 60 megabytes of software code, the opportunity for malfunctions, wireless attacks and other security threats was multiplying, he said.

What I’d like to know is just how a virus would get into your car’s chips.

Oh, well . . .

GET THE STORY.

Author: Jimmy Akin

Jimmy was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live."

10 thoughts on ““My Car Has A Virus . . .””

  1. Circuit Rider, a fellow techie, can back me up on this one. You don’t have anything to worry about. The electronics that run your car run on their own processor and what not. They are inaccessible except via a direct link. For example, your auto mechanic or if you have dreaded emissions testers has a handheld that has to be plugged in to the car. As we progress to having internet access and additional satelite features in your car this still shouldn’t be a problem, because there is no good reason to combine the systems.

  2. “…because there is no good reason to combine the systems.”
    As the Galactica found out in Spades!

  3. I suppose if the computer chips in our cars come equipped with wireless networking capabilities (say to be able to download updates and to easily upload statistics to the mechanic), then we could use that wireless capability to infect cars with viruses. I could see this happening because wireless capabilities would be convenient and will most likely happen soon for better car maintenance and diagnostics.

  4. As for, “there is no good reason to combine the systems” I have one word, convenience. The number one reason technology does anything is convenience. We have a very good reason to place wireless capabilities in the car’s computer. Now, we also have a very good reason to have killer anti-virus capabilities in the car’s computer as soon as wireless capabilities are added, but there ya are.

  5. There is no good reason to have wireless capabilities in the operational portion of the car. Wireless makes sense when there are locational issues, e.g. can’t go through the walls, on the move, etc. Car repairs will always be done at a fixed point. Besides which, the greatest barrier to cost effectiveness is the lifting of the car, disassembling, etc.
    Even with a wireless entry point there, the probability of viruses is very low. This is not Windows. As all the ATMs move to the Windows OS, then be concerned. BTW that is actually occuring now…

  6. If I believe the OnStar ads, they can unlock my car from Detroit or where every they are. They can check for air bag deployment and other things. What are the other things?
    Someone out there is or will be shortly trying to figure out how to unlock your car when they want in or how to lock it when you want in.

  7. I’ve never come across a car with a virus, though my current gas-guzzling SUV definitely has arthritis. 167,000 miles and counting… yeah! I’m shootin’ for 200,000. That will be worth a quick photo of the odometer, wherever I am. Just hope I’m not on the Skelly bypass in Tulsa! Yow!!
    My last word on viruses (virii?) – once you go MAC, you’ll never go back!

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