Why It's Unlikely Someone Killed Michael Hastings By Hacking His Car

Jalopnik ^ | 6/25/13 | Patrick George

[Triple]

G: Hello onstar...

C:I locked my keys in the car ...

G: One minute please.

O: There, are they unlocked now?

O: Yes - thanks

Conversation from 8 years ago... Now they can do much more.

No way the NSA is aware or monitoring these communications, is there?-—never mind...-

[Blueflag]

Didn’t know that; indeed THAT is consistent with a roaring gasoline fire.

Withdrawing all concerns, awaiting reports the fuel tank was ripped open.

Some years ago I was driving on I-85 in GA when the truck in front of me dropped his drive shaft right on front of me. No room left or right to move. The narrow end was pointed at me, and the big U-joint away from me. As I drove over it in my company-owned Ford Taurus, the frame caught the u-joint, lifted up the shaft, and the shaft then penetrated the left rear floor board and speared the gas tank.

I immiediately pulled over on the shoulder, as did the now coasting truck, and as luck would have it we were on a pretty good incline. I had just a few miles ago filled up with gas, so parked there on the shoulder I proceeded to drain nearly 20 gallons of gas in a stream along the roadside. Would have been spectacular if ignited. Would have only burned for a couple minutes, but open gasoline makes a purty fire.

Needless to say I moved WELL away from the vehicle.

By the time the po-po and the fire department arrived, the gasoline have evaporated and the wind had blown the vapors away.

Still an exciting few moments as I thought about the hot cat or a spark from dragging metal igniting the leaking gas as I brought the car to a stop on the grass shoulder.

[frankenMonkey]

The article is from Jalopnik, part of the Gawker media organization. “Left of Center” would be an accurate description of the org.

[zzwhale]

he was going to expose some cia corruption..... now we all know the cia does not engage in any underhanded activity.... AND WE ALL TRUST OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT despite recent revelations....right???????

hack a car... you mean mess with the electronic throttle actuator and the abs brakes... nah not our government. what about if the accelerator signal is floored and the brakes disabled.... SOUNDS LIKE THE DESCRIPTION GIVEN BY WITNESSES WHO SAW THE CAR SPEEDING BY AT EXTREMELY HIGH SPEED AT A COUPLE OF REDLIGHTS...

Friends and relatives say he DROVE LIKE GRANDMA.....

Digitalis for Breitbart and Hack for Hastings
problems solved
Next

[absolootezer0]

Do you know how they update the car computer? It's done by popping a CD into the CD player. How 'impossible' is it for a government agent with billions of dollars in funding behind him to have a customized CD made and stick it into a CD player.

that's getting to be low tech. newer cars have bluetooth, cellular or wireless connectivity that can unlock doors, remote start, monitor systems, record data, even make changes to shift points, air fuel ratio, and spark timing, and change rpm and speed governors (lower them for a "valet mode"). no reason to believe a program couldn't be written to change other things, and quickly turned back to stock.

[zeugma]

cars' internal networks aren't normally equipped to receive wireless instructions

If we didn't have a rogue bunch of murderous maniacs in control of our government, I'd say they should be focusing on attempting to locate a wireless receiver tied into the vehicle's system. We already know they put GPS transmitters on cars.

[Falcon4.0]

"HOWEVER, IF one could gain access to the interior of the car without setting off the alarms, all one has to do is drop in the proper CD into the CD player. "

You're,,, mocking me, aren't you? :-)
But I do believe changes can be made to the program by plugging into the system. Just a thought.

[Vaquero]

I was just answering someone who brought up a drone possibility.

[DJ Frisat]

"Do you know how they update the car computer? It's done by popping a CD into the CD player."

Sounds reasonable. They're DESIGNED to work with one another.

How 'impossible' is it for a government agent with billions of dollars in funding behind him to have a customized CD made and stick it into a CD player.

It didn't say it was impossible, I said 'damned-near impossible.' I know this stuff can be done because I see happen. Hell, Sandra Bullock can do wondrous things! We disable an alien space craft by plugging in a USB stick and typing a few lines on a flat-screen monitor. Everybody knows that all you have to do is look at some of the raw data on some type of memory device and we suddenly know the computer's architecture, what type of programming language, all the peripherals attached, and how to reprogram it in under 2 minutes so that it works right the first time, while the bad guy is breaking through the door to get us. Happens all the time.

"which makes the rest of your statement 'preposterous' (and wrong)."

I've been wrong before. No big deal. Prove it, and I'll happily recant my statement and change my opinion, which, by the way is equally valid with yours.

This, by the way, is my last post on the subject. It's not worth any more of my time. Call me anything you want.

[NormsRevenge]

OnSTar.. Yes Yes Yess.. We can do that.

You say you have a warrant and FISA judge approval to ‘kill’ any new model car and its uccupants and make it look like an accident.

Bug uhh Big Gubamint Motors delivers a bigger bang for the buck than a Benz.

Coming soon to an offramp near you.

[gonzo]

Ping for later read ......................................................................................... FRegards

[metmom]

I’d be interested in what that panicked email had to say.

I suppose it will come out eventually.