Joey Hendrich with AE Tools and Computers only needed three minutes to shake up attendees during an educational seminar Wednesday at the Association of Diesel Specialists (ADS) International Convention and Tradeshow in Orlando.
Presenting on cybersecurity in the transportation market, Hendrich showed a brief video from Wired in which two hackers using laptops and sitting on their couch were able to remotely hack and then shut down Jeep Cherokee while on an interstate in St. Louis.
The video had first made the rounds online when it was released by Wired as part of a look into the dangers of connected vehicles in 2015 but it was news to most of Wednesday’s ADS audience. After showing the video Hendrich quickly assured the audience that the opening that enabled the Jeep to be hacked had shortly thereafter been addressed by Chrysler, but by then the video’s message had already been conveyed.
Onboard technology might be the future of transportation, but it’s not without its risks.
Hendrich followed up his alarming video by detailing nearly a dozen components and systems found on today’s cars and trucks that are already susceptible to hacking. Hendrich says while some of these systems are relatively new to the industry, others have been on vehicles for years. And their adoption is only going to continue to rise, Hendrich says, which means the transportation industry will only to continue to be more exposed to sabotage.
Speaking to an aftermarket audience, Hendrich’s advice was engagement and awareness.
He says service providers need to be careful to avoid attempting repairs they don’t have the technology and capability to complete, and/or any work where their efforts could damage or disable OEM security protections.
He also notes the importance of the independent service channel to lean on National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF), which has worked with the OEM community to compile useful diagnostic and repair information required to be publicly available thanks to the automotive and heavy-duty right to repair Memorandums of Understandings. He adds tool usage is important as well, saying service providers should be checking and updating their diagnostic equipment to ensure their equipment has the most updated and secure connection protocols.
