Thursday, 23 July 2015

Hackers remotely disable a Jeep on the highway — update


Credit: Wired
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Update — Fiat Chrysler recalls 1.4 million cars after Jeep hack

Affected vehicles
2013-2015 MY Dodge Viper specialty vehicles
2013-2015 Ram 1500, 2500 & 3500 pickups
2013-2015 Ram 3500, 4500, 5500 Chassis Cabs
2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee & Cherokee SUVs
2014-2015 Dodge Durango SUVs
2015 MY Chrysler 200, Chrysler 300 & Dodge Charger sedans
2015 Dodge Challenger sports coupes

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-33650491

http://www.wired.com/2015/07/jeep-hack-chrysler-recalls-1-4m-vehicles-bug-fix/?mbid=nl_72415
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We’ve been here before: developer in too much of a hurry to add features, ignores security, leaves system open to hacking.

Difference this time:
● developers (car manufacturers) have the previous sorry examples, which should have served as a warning
● human lives are directly on the line



Good news:
● demonstrated in a limited range of vehicles
● other manufacturers remain an unknown quantity
● manufacturers have been informed
● legislation is in train, in USA, to force manufacturers to tighten up security in Web-enabled vehicles
● hackers do not plan to release enough of their exploit to allow others to duplicate it without months of research

Bad news:
● other manufacturers remain an unknown quantity
● for the purposes of demonstration, hackers cause a vehicle to suffer a sudden, dangerous, loss of power on the highway1,2 — this in, apparently, relatively responsible hands of people expecting to be scrutinised in various forums
● what will others do with it?

http://www.wired.com/2015/07/hackers-remotely-kill-jeep-highway/?mbid=nl_72115
___________________

1 "Death prompts VW owners to speak out", http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/death-prompts-vw-owners-to-speak-out-20130530-2nexi

2 “Faults that trashed a reputation”, http://www.drive.com.au/it-pro/faults-that-trashed-a-reputation-20130607-2nvlc / driving 70 mph downtown St. Louis exploit I hadn’t touched the dashboard vents Jeep Cherokee started blasting cold air maximum setting in-seat climate control system radio switched local hip hop station full volume spun the control knob left hit the power button to no avail windshield wipers turned on wiper fluid blurred sprayed glass two hackers performing stunts car’s digital display Charlie Miller Chris Valasek Jeep’s strange behavior St. Louis Miller and Valasek’s digital crash-test dummy test car-hacking research result of their work hacking technique security industry zero-day exploit target Jeep Cherokees attacker wireless control via the Internet thousands of vehicles code automaker’s nightmare software hackers send commands Jeep’s entertainment system dashboard functions steering brakes transmission laptop across the country simulate experience driving a vehicle while it’s being hijacked invisible virtual force Miller Valasek attacks planned launch Miller’s laptop life-threatening drive the Jeep onto the highway iPhone’s speaker Interstate 64 on-ramp don’t panic hacking into Jeep Cherokee SUV highway ten miles away two hackers remotely air-conditioning radio windshield cut the transmission accelerator stopped working Jeep lost half its speed slowed to a crawl long overpass no shoulder escape experiment interstate slope upward barely crept forward cars lined up behind passing me honking 18-wheeler semi trailer approaching rearview mirror driver saw me paralyzed on the highway semi loomed in the mirror immobilized Jeep beg the hackers to make it stop wireless carjackers behind the wheel of a compromised car summer 2013 Ford Escape Toyota Prius South Bend Indiana, parking lot backseat laptops disabled my brakes honked the horn jerked the seat belt commandeered the steering wheel limitation wired into vehicles’ onboard diagnostic port repair technicians access to information car’s electronically controlled systems carjacking has gone wireless Miller Valasek publish exploit Internet talk they’re giving Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas next month series revelations two hackers spooked automotive industry helped inspire legislation WIRED learned senators Ed Markey Richard Blumenthal introduce automotive security bill set new digital security standards for cars trucks auto-hacking antidote bill timely attack tools developed remotely trigger dashboard transmission tricks used on the highway demonstrated traumatic experience on I-64 narrowly averting death by semi-trailer lame Jeep down an exit ramp re-engaged transmission turning ignition off and on arsenal functions lower speeds kill the engine engage the brakes disable cut the Jeep’s brakes 2-ton SUV slid uncontrollably into a ditch researchers perfecting steering control hijack the wheel Jeep is in reverse hack enables surveillance track a targeted Jeep’s GPS coordinates measure its speed drop pins on a map to trace its route Chrysler almost all carmakers turn the modern automobile into a smartphone Uconnect Internet-connected computer feature hundreds of thousands of Fiat Chrysler cars SUVs trucks controls vehicle’s entertainment navigation enables phone calls Wi-Fi hot spot one vulnerable element won’t identify Black Hat talk Uconnect’s cellular connection also car’s IP address gain access super nice vulnerability entry point attack adjacent chip in car’s head unit hardware entertainment system rewriting chip’s firmware plant their code rewritten firmware capable of sending commands car’s internal computer network CAN bus physical components engine wheels attack on entertainment system work any Chrysler vehicle Uconnect tested full set of physical hacks targeting transmission braking systems Jeep Cherokee attacks tweaked work any Chrysler vehicle vulnerable Uconnect head unit remotely hacking into other makes models cars researchers details of their work Las Vegas tool enabling wave of attacks Jeeps around the world part of the attack rewrites chip’s firmware hackers reverse-engineer took months code publish enable dashboard hijinks demonstrated GPS tracking sharing research Chrysler release patch Black Hat conference owners vehicles Uconnect feature notified patch post on Chrysler’s website acknowledge Miller and Valasek’s research Interstate 40 Route 40 Interstate 64 /

Wednesday, 22 July 2015

Reversible micro USB cable — update


MicFlip micro USB to USB A cable — both ends reversible
Credit: Winnergear/IndieGoGo

Update — producers of MicFlip reversible USB cables have advised IndieGoGo supporters that they have been unable to source reversible USB A connectors which perform reliably over the thousands of plug/unplug operations they are likely to be exposed to in normal use. Based on the photographs I have seen, reversible USB A plugs must be subject to strong flexing each time they are plugged in. An email to supporters reads in part:

"We have some bad news about the Type-A plug. At the moment we are still trying to figure out how to make it work as it seems that no matter how we plug it after a while the connectivity is lost ..."

MicFlip cables will be supplied with reversible micro USB & conventional USB A plugs.

Problems making reliable reversible USB plugs may be related to the failure-to-appear of the rumoured reversible USB A to Lightning cable from Apple.

Producers of MicFlip have also undertaken to supply cables with reversible USB A & micro USB plugs when a reliable USB A connector becomes available. Price will be in the $3 to $5 range for existing supporters.

Any USB A plug can be converted to reversible with one of these adapters:

Straight
http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-Universal-Reversible-UR024-000/dp/B00EYCF40Q

Right angle
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KAYTHEG/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1/184-6744116-2105069?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_r=1EZ1CH86Z8RETSE6R53R&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=1944687602&pf_rd_i=B00EYCF40Q

More about MicFlip, plus some alternatives at:

http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/reversible-micro-usb-cable.html / reversible Micro-USB cable that is long overdue for Android handset users braided nylon gold plated connectors aluminium housing plug durable tangle free Kickstarter IndieGoGo crowd funded funding product delivery backers product quality durability pilot production run Micro-Flip cables passed reliability durability tests withstand withstanding 10,000 plugging cycles demand production mass quantities funding goal deliver product backers quality control manufacturer quality USB cables industrial quality control process USB cables USB 2 USB 3.0 3.1 charge sync synch /

Tuesday, 21 July 2015

Want to live in a house built from shipping containers? (video)


Credit: dezeen.com

Shipping containers — utilitarian, strong, revolutionized transport, & reduced costs. But would you want to live in one? Or several of them joined together? Hard as it may be to believe, the home pictured above is built from 4 containers.

It's the Grillagh Water House, designed by architect & farmer, Patrick Bradley & built on his own land.

Grand Designs episode about its construction


More about the container house:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2768293/I-m-desperate-gorgeous-girl-I-just-want-happy-explains-Channel-4-Grand-Designs-team-turn-cover-project.html

http://www.dezeen.com/2015/01/11/grillagh-water-house-patrick-bradley-maghera-northern-ireland-farm-shipping-containers-grand-designs/

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/house-home/shipping-container-house-featured-on-grand-designs-wins-top-architecture-award-31164381.html

More houses built from shipping containers

http://www.homedit.com/22-most-beautiful-houses-made-from-shipping-containers/

http://www.buzzfeed.com/kristinchirico/surprisingly-gorgeous-homes-made-from-shipping-containers#.fagnmlQegE

http://www.trueactivist.com/a-shipping-container-costs-about-2000-what-these-15-people-did-with-that-is-beyond-epic/

So, wanna live in a container house? / 4 stacked shipping containers Grillagh Water House by Patrick Bradley architect designed design balcony shaded steel fins projects upper storey of this house Northern Ireland architect farmer farmhouse farm house Patrick Bradley built four used shipping containers Patrick Bradley developed Grillagh Water House picturesque site on his own farm near town of Maghera local legislation allows farmers build dwellings on their land designed house employed conventional construction methods architect needed reduce the cost meet budget alternative solution change the idea aesthetics design alternative more affordable idea shipping containers assembled around a steel framework metal boxes extend entrance end of a gravel lane sit on top other pair of containers lee of a gentle slope upper level cantilevers over the lower storey balcony surrounded by steel fins protect interior unwanted solar gain terrace glass balustrade garden below minimal metal staircase house made out of containers sculpture landscape blend in with its surroundings containers upper level clad in grey powder-coated expanded metal sheets covered in panels pre-rusted Corten steel rural part of Northern Ireland materials common in the area grey colour similar many of the agricultural buildings Corten steel cladding blend in with the landscape rock already on the site /

Monday, 20 July 2015

USB C flash drives

While we’re waiting for USB C, with reversible connector, fast USB 3.1 speed, high power & video, to revolutionise computing, the USB A connector will continue to be important.

Some manufacturers are producing flash drives with both USB A & USB C connectors

SanDisk


32GB only
Credit: SanDisk/Gizmodo

http://www.theverge.com/2015/6/3/8719629/sandisk-usb-c-dual-flash-drive-computex-2015

http://gizmodo.com/sandisk-has-the-first-flash-drive-with-a-reversible-usb-1688533182

http://www.macrumors.com/review/sandisk-dual-usb-type-c-flash-drive/

Kingston


16GB, 32GB & 64GB
Credit: Kingston/BetaNews

http://betanews.com/2015/06/08/kingston-digital-announces-new-usb-type-c-flash-drive/

Patriot


32GB & 64GB
Credit: Patriot/Apple Insider

http://appleinsider.com/articles/15/04/28/patriot-unveils-usb-c-flash-drive-for-apples-macbook

Emtec


16 & 32 GB
Credit: Emtec/ComputerWorld

http://www.computerworld.com/article/2901435/emtec-type-c-flash-drives-to-begin-shipping.html


Alternatively, a USB A to USB C adapter may work better for you


16 & 32 GB
Credit: Brando/The Gadgeteer

http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/brando-has-usb-type-c-adapters-for-all.html / USB Type-C adapter brand new hard to find normal the norm standard new cable type invented Apple latest MacBook new USB standard offer significant advantages current Type-A connector smaller reversible faster data speeds more power USB Type-C change cables adapters USB Type-C hubs card readers adapters convert other cables micro USB Lightning USB Type-C Brando USB A USB C connector /

Sunday, 19 July 2015

F.I.A.T. 28.5 liter “Beast Of Turin” driven for first time in 100 years (video)


F.I.A.T. S76 — that's the way the company name was written in 1911 — period marks can just be made out in the sign on the wall behind the S76
Credit: Goodwood

● 28.5 litres & 4 cylinders — over 7 litres per cylinder
● that's over 14 litres of fire & smoke out the exhaust at every engine revolution
● chain drive — one chain each side — transferring 300 hp to the rear wheels
● if either chain lets go, be ready to duck — but there's probably not much point
● heads just visible above the bonnet — this is a very tall car
● add leaf springs & narrow tyres for an exciting ride at over 100 mph
● no front brakes — customary in 1911
● "legburner" exhaust — missing from the restored vehicle in the videos below

In 1911 this was the fastest car in the world. Pietro Bordino drove it to an official land speed record of 116 mph over the flying mile, at Saltburn Sands, England. Later that year, an attempt was made on the the flying kilometre record, at Oostenede, Belguim. It was timed at over 135 mph, but could not complete the return journey in the hour to claim the record, due to external circumstances.

The Beast of Turin trailer from stefan marjoram on Vimeo.




http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1099157_fiat-28-liter-beast-of-turin-driven-for-first-time-in-100-years

https://grrc.goodwood.com/race/historic/legendary-fiat-s76-run-first-time-100-years#SesMZUDemkFJU8wP.97

Assembling the engine

Credit: stefanmarjoram.com/The Old Motor

More images of engine assembly:
http://theoldmotor.com/?p=122246 / F.I.A.T. Fiat fastest car in the world FIAT S76 restoration owner Duncan Pittaway painstakingly rebuilding car hillclimb Goodwood Festival of Speed terrific noise pedestrians three yards of flame stub exhausts bonnet S76 produced Italian manufacturer records flying kilometre flying mile Blitzen Benz S76 mile record Pietro Bordino Saltburn Sands 1911 officially recorded over 135mph kilometre Ostenede in Belguim unable to complete return run specified one hour one car dismantled Fiat First World War racing cars rival manufacturers technical secrets purchased by Russian aristocrat Boris Soukhanov modernised Australia campaigned Fiat Racing Special Duncan drive S76 Goodwood brought rolling chassis remains UK original 28.5 litre four cylinder engine dismantled car machine restored original specification Roach Manufacturing Southampton bodywork restoring Bugatti T35 S76 original S76 components survived restored chassis engine suspension axles pedals steering box gearbox radiator bodywork original Fiat drawings last largest huge-engined Edwardian monsters /

Saturday, 18 July 2015

What’s faster than Insane? Ludicrous

For some time, the fastest 4-door sedan in the world has been the P85D version of the Tesla Model S in “Insane” mode — capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds.

But, no more.

Now, the fastest 4-door sedan in the world is the P90D version of the Tesla Model S in “Ludicrous” mode — capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds. 1.1 Gs.

http://www.wired.com/2015/07/teslas-new-ludicrous-mode-makes-model-s-supercar/

http://techcrunch.com/2015/07/17/teslas-model-s-gets-ludicrous-mode-will-do-0-60-in-2-8-seconds/#.u6givh:k8k1 / Tesla Model S LiIon battery cell lithium ion charge recharge Supercharger station charge Elon Musk 85 kWh killo Watt hour /

Colorado bear drops by the pie shop


Credit: BoingBoing

Didn’t pay his bill, but did leave a favourable review on Yelp. His verdict: try the apple or the cherry — skip the strawberry & rhubarb.


Credit: Yelp/BoingBoing



http://boingboing.net/2015/07/17/colorado-bear-with-munchies-br.html?utm_source=moreatbb&utm_medium=nextpost&utm_campaign=nextpostthumbnails

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/16/bear-pies-colorado-bakery / Outside store trail of sugar clump of cherries report Denver, CO TV news station hungry bear Colorado broke into a local pie shop ate every last pie in the place except for one flavor Kristi Lehnert owns owner Colorado Cherry Company bear climbed into her store through a window Tuesday morning feast bear ate 24 cherry pies 14 apple pies bear did not like strawberry rhubarb pie bear area go grab some pies yourself Colorado Cherry Yelp listing gets pretty good reviews black bear brown bear /