5 Dangerous hacks that may leave you feeling nervous

Electronic Products ^ | 09/05/2013 | Nicolette Emmino

[null and void]

As technology progresses, we leave ourselves more susceptible to hacking. Although some may view hacking someone’s toilet harmless and a little amusing, it can actually be a potentially dangerous matter. Hacking is such a big deal that there are even whole conferences dedicated to it (like last month’s Def Con convention).



If you thought getting your cellphone or e-mail hacked into was a big deal, check out these hacking stories that may leave you feeling pretty vulnerable.

1. Prison computer gets hacked, releases inmates from their cells

On June 13, in the maximum security wing of the Turner Guildford Knight Correctional Center in Miami, FL, what was initially said to be a computer glitch opened all of the cells to the prison simultaneously.
Corrections investigators are looking at the Black Creek Integrated Systems security system that was installed as part of a $1.4 million security upgrade.

However, investigators are now looking at the surveillance video (obtained by the Miami Herald) which is leading them to believe that this was an intentional hack after two inmates launched a violent attack on another immediately upon the door’s opening.

2. Creep hacks into a baby monitor, shouts disgusting words at sleeping child

The baby monitor that can be hacked. (Image via Foscam)

Last month, a Texas couple heard an unfamiliar voice coming from their two-year-old daughter’s baby monitor. A stranger managed to hack into the monitor (which included a camera) and began shouting perverted remarks at the sleeping baby. Luckily, she couldn’t hear any of it because she was born deaf and her cochlear implants were turned off at the time of the incident. 

3. Famous hacker discovered that hacking a pacemaker can kill someone

Well-known hacker Barnaby Jack, who made his living using his tech skills to reveal security holes before criminals can find them, discovered how a pacemaker can be hacked and a man can be killed from 30 feet away. Jack was supposed to demonstrate this at the Def Con hacker convention last month, but died just a few days before, ABC News reported.

4. Our cars have gotten so smart they’ve become a target of hacking too

This 2010 Toyotal Prius was hacked by Miller and Valasek.(Image via Toyota)

Since our cars are becoming computers on wheels, security experts Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek were able to discover just how easy it is to break into someone’s vehicle and take over all of its major functions. The pair received funding from DARPA in order to hack into a 2010 Ford Escape and a 2010 Toyota Prius.

They were able to hack into these cars using an ordinary cable that can be purchased by anyone and connecting it to a laptop to interact with the On-Board Diagnostics Port, OBD II. In their research, they showed how in two different vehicles they were able to influence the car’s behavior (including brakes, steering, acceleration, display, and to some extent, lights, horn, gas gauge, and speedometer). 

5. You’re watching TV, but a hacker is watching you through your TV

Samsung Smart TV can be a hacking target. (Image via Samsung)

Researchers Aaron Grattafiori and Josh Yavor presented at Def Con last month the ways that a 2012 Samsung Smart TV could be hacked. A hacker could get inside of your TV remotely, turn it on and off and even watch the video from the camera that comes with the set. Samsung says they have released software that resolves this issue.

So, stay safe and keep an eye on all of your electronic devices, before someone starts keeping an eye on you. 

[wally_bert]

Even as a kid I thought about that plot problem.

[Mr. K]

what’s this ‘vinyl’ thing? is it some old fogey stuff or some junk?

[Secret Agent Man]

well like anything related to sampling, not every mp3 file is as good or bad as the next one. How something is recorded today is extremely important as to how the quality of the music is going to sound. What starting parameters, sampling rates, how noise is controlled for, how certain frequency bands are captured, amplified, or reduced.

I like the .wav files too.

[TomGuy]

Some info about ransomware:

http://netsecurity.about.com/od/antivirusandmalware/a/Is-Ransomware-Holding-Your-Computer-Hostage.htm

Possible removal guides:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/

[Old Sarge]

Number 3 sounds vaguely familiar...

[bmwcyle]

They were able to hack into these cars using an ordinary cable that can be purchased by anyone and connecting it to a laptop to interact with the On-Board Diagnostics Port, OBD II. In their research, they showed how in two different vehicles they were able to influence the car’s behavior (including brakes, steering, acceleration, display, and to some extent, lights, horn, gas gauge, and speedometer).

It sounds like they can kill people with their own cars.

[null and void]

Let’s not come to a Hastings conclusion there...

[Pan_Yan]

The average person’s critical thinking skills have now been reduced to the level of the OJ jury. The odds may be 147 million to 1 but there’s still a reasonable doubt!

[butterdezillion]

Not to mention Bill Gwatney being shot by a supposedly-despondent guy who didn’t even know him, a day or so after he agreed to challenge Obama’s eligibility at the 2008 DNC Convention.

And then a week or so later Stephanie Tubbs dying of an aneurysm right after she agreed to challenge Obama’s eligibility at the 2008 DNC Convention.

All within a couple weeks of the 2008 DNC Convention...

Yep. All coinky-dinks.

[Old Sarge]

[bgill]

In the case of some cameras, a piece of duct tape isn’t a bad thing.

[Billthedrill]

Ridiculous. Your computer's camera is not in any danger at all - they're virtually uncrackable.

By the way, your tie's crooked.

[ClayinVA]

contact your local computer tech, they should be able to take it off. you can also look up the name of the program on google and find uninstall options. most of these hostage programs are automated scams.

[ClayinVA]

The true audio-files are using FLAC now or ripping their CD’s back into WAV files because space is so cheap right now. 4 TB hard drives go for $150 dollars on Amazon all day long. That is a lot of music.

[TheOldLady]

We used post-it notes.

[Balding_Eagle]

If you have Windows you can probably use a ‘set back in time’ function, which sets the computer state back to before the time the virus was ‘installed’. Instantly, no virus.

You lose everything between that date and today, but I’d guess it would be worth it.

Altho it’s a very simple process, I’ve done it a couple times when I had serious problems like you do, but someone with a little more knowledge than me needs to help you.

The setback time is limited, so if you’re going to do that I’d hop right on it.

[Wurlitzer]

Agreed and much better than MP3.

[Wurlitzer]

“what’s this ‘vinyl’ thing? is it some old fogey stuff or some junk?”

---

Yup, that’s me an old fogey but there will soon be nobody who remembers something like the old blooper recordings of “

“Remember to go to your A and P, click, and P, click, and P, click, and P....

And yes A&P is another old fogey thing.

BUT on FR an old fogey should be a good thing

Definition: a person, typically an old one, who is considered to be old-fashioned or CONSERVATIVE in attitude or tastes.

[Mr. K]

LOL- I am probably older than you- and yes I remember the A&P