Hack my ride

Many people have a hard enough time making sure that their computer is patched and up-to-date. Now that some hackers are targeting cars, we may soon have to make sure the Buick has the latest security patches as well.

It seems that some car thieves have turned hacker (or is it the other way around) and are beginning to target cars with keyless entry systems.

While many computer-based security systems on automobiles require some type of key, mechanical or otherwise, start the engine, so-called "keyless"setups require only the presence of a key fob to start the engine.

The expert gang suspected of stealing two of David Beckham’s BMW X5 SUVs in the last six months did so by using software programs on a laptop to wirelessly break into the car’s computer, open the doors, and start the engine.

The article on leftlanenews.com goes one to tell the story of how David Beckham's Beemersdisappearingearing.

The Leftlane Perspective: Many modern cars now rely on software entirely for security. Gone are the days where microchips supplemented mechanical locks as an additional security measure. In the case of true ‘keyless’ systems, software is the only thing between a thief and your car. As computers become more powerful, will stealing cars become even easier? Never mind future cars with better security — what about today’s cars a few years down the road? With cars as inexpensive as the Toyota Camry offering entirely keyless systems, these concerns a relevant to all consumers.

While we are still a long way from GM Tuesdays, it does give you something to think about. For me, I am glad my ride is a bit more low tech.