Hacked - Is TMC In For An Even Rockier Ride?

Darren

According to an article at Computerworld.com, two 'Security Experts (aka hackers) at CanSecWest, a security conference in Vancouver, have found a way to send false TMC data to RDS-TMC equipped satnav systems.

Using off the shelf hardware they transmitted data using the RDS system warning of foul weather. Through experimentation they found that certain codes translated into specific warnings. Whilst on the surface this is mildly amusing, for example there are TMC codes for 'bull fight in progress'. Others have a a much darker under current such as 'terrorist incident' and 'air crash'.

Clearly the concern is that with a system apparently so easily compromised it could be hacked maliciously. Amazingly the RDS data itself is not encrypted in any way nor is any form of authentication of the messages carried out. Given the issues many have had with reception of RDS-TMC, particularly here in the UK, it brings the entire service into sharp focus once again and raises the question of its long term viability, especially when there are other alternatives beginning to appear.
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Darren Griffin

GPS_fan · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:12 am Post subject:

If the software on a GPS is programmed to accept data from one TMC provider, but not another surely a hacker would have to make malicious messages provider-specific.

I remember that one article about malicious TMC messages was an April fool, but have we not seen other genuine reports of such activity with off the shelf products?
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Andy
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Darren · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:38 am Post subject:

emjaiuk · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 5:02 pm Post subject:

I really wish you hadn't posted this, I can see TT blaming hackers for their current TMC interpretation problems Laughing

ps Have you managed to speak to them about that Darren?

Malcolm
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Darren · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 5:04 pm Post subject:

I have asked for comment but not received any feedback as yet Sad

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Darren Griffin

emjaiuk · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:44 pm Post subject:

sausages · Lifetime Member Joined: Feb 25, 2005 Posts: 62

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