There’s a new vector for hacking your car’s computer wirelessly. Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) are a safety feature that has been mandatory on all new vehicles since 2008. TPMS are installed on each tire to monitor the air pressure and alert the driver when the pressure falls below a certain threshold. While TPMS has improved safety on the roads, they have also become a target for hackers. Yes, another hacking game!
It turns out the attack potential is huge. In the U.S., the Tread Act mandated that every car built in 2008 and on must have a tire pressure monitoring system built in. It also turns out that car tire pressure monitors use unencrypted radio frequency for the communication between the tire and the receiver. TPMS sensor alarms are what turn on that annoying low tire pressure light we are all familiar with on the dash console. This typically refers to a flat tire or a tire that is low in pressure, which wears the tires out quickly and reduces fuel economy, reduces traction and compromises your safety.
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So how can hackers get to your car’s computer through the TPMS? This can be done in several ways, such as by intercepting the wireless signals sent between the sensors and the vehicle’s computer, or by physically accessing the sensors to replace or modify them. Once a hacker gains access to a vehicle’s TPMS, they can send false data to the vehicle’s computer, such as indicating that the tire pressure is higher or lower than it actually is. This can cause the vehicle to malfunction or even cause an accident.
At first, you may not think it is a big deal. Who cares that you can hack my car and turn on my little pressure light? Annoying, sure. I didn’t think I cared until I learned that the Radio Frequency (RF) receiver is directly hooked into the car’s ECU. The ECU is the computer in your car that controls almost all functions of your car’s systems. Everything from fuel injection, exhaust, fuel mix, electricity, engine stats, timing, electric car drivability, and lots more is controlled by your car’s engine control unit.
Another scary thing is that the Radio Frequency (RF) receiver that talks to the sensors on each tire is usually the same RF system that communicates with your remote key fob to open the doors and disarm your security system. The TPMS is made up of four or five sensors (five if it also monitors your spare tire’s pressure). Each sensor is located inside your tire, right by the valve stem.
The risks of TPMS hacking include:
- Vehicle safety: TPMS hacking can compromise the safety of the vehicle by causing incorrect tire pressure readings, which can lead to accidents or tire blowouts.
- Data privacy: TPMS systems can transmit data about the vehicle, such as its location and driving habits. Hackers can intercept this data and use it for malicious purposes, such as stealing the vehicle or spying on the driver.
- Cybersecurity: TPMS hacking can be used as a way to gain access to other systems within the vehicle, such as the engine or brakes. This can lead to complete control of the vehicle by the hacker.
So, what can you do to stop the hackers? TPMS hacking is a serious threat to vehicle safety and data privacy. You should be as cautious of your car’s security as you are of public Wi-Fi. Keep your vehicle up to date and use a TPMS with encryption to reduce the risk of TPMS hacking. Additionally, installing a TPMS alarm and being mindful of physical security can help detect any hacking attempts and prevent unauthorized access to your vehicle’s TPMS system.
Next time that annoying low tire pressure light kicks on, check your tire pressure against the number inside your driver’s door with a dial or digital pressure gauge. They cost around $10 and will save you from a real disaster.
If the tire pressures are good, hackers accessing your car’s ECU could lead to bigger issues. If possible, this would allow for all sorts of nastiness, like shutting off a car that is running, damaging the engine by setting bad values in the ECU, creating power issues, etc. Just so you are in the know, modern ECUs sometimes include features such as cruise control, transmission control, anti-skid brake control, and anti-theft, which are on every vehicle.
TPMS hacking is a relatively new phenomenon, but as vehicles become more connected and rely more on electronic systems, the importance of these types of issues will only continue to grow.
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