this post was submitted on 10 Feb 2024
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While this is seems a bit incompetent, it is easier for them to make technology less available than to fix the underlying issues here. They might set out to do both, but solving the underlying issues will take more time.
At least they're trying to do the right thing, and they're making an effort to deal with a problem that affects real people. Good on them.
This is like banning usb cables so Hyundai/Kia cars won’t be stolen, instead of forcing the car manufacturer to just install an actual immobilizer on affected vehicles. Seeing Hyundai/Kia do everything but install immobilizers is infuriating as well. They’re rolling out software updates, giving out wheel locks, installing cages on the ignition panel, etc. Literally everything but fix the problem.
If USB cables were used almost exclusively for illegal and just generally anti social behavior.
I'd never heard of this thing, and it does sound fun, but this was the use case list from the paragraph calling it a "humble hobbyist device" doesn't come across as very defensible:
But also agreed on fuck those car companies that just don't care and would rather weaponize the government than try to fix anything (without a subscription fee of course). Anti social behavior forced Kia to change their shitty grift of a product so 🤷
Except they aren’t. These devices are used for various non-illegal purposes and are actually helpful for pentesters so we can learn about potential vulnerabilities on wireless systems before they can be exploited by bad actors. The same way a usb cable is useful for transferring data and at the same time can be used for illegal stuff (like literally any hack where you connect to a device via usb). The worst part (and the article mentions it), is that it doesn’t even work on security systems on cars built since the 90’s. So they’re banning something that isn’t even a problem in the first place.
I totally get and agree this is a dumbfuck response to the problem they allege to be fixing, and hopefully their committee it whatever concludes the same, but the article didn't mention any redeeming values for the device as you did
So the article is biased, and you swallowed it whole sale.
How so
This means the writer has a bias of negativity towards the device and now you are arguing that's it's a good thing it is being banned.
You would vote to ban dihydrogen monoxide if you found it has been consumed by every murderer in existence and also has been found at every school shooting too
I said "this is a dumbfuck response to a problem they allege to be fixing and hopefully their committee concludes the same".
Translation = it's stupid to ban it.
I was giving credit to that other guy for listing some redeeming qualities of the device as the article did not.
The problem is they are banning a device that doesn't solve the issue at all except if you have a car from before the 90s. The tools being used for this are custom made with a much larger range. Maybe they should ban smartphones too since people are using them to detect laptops in cars to break into since they are being stupid about it.
How do you use a phone to detect a laptop in a car? If it’s on, sure I get it but if the laptop is asleep or off I can’t see how a phone will detect it?
Article said they were using Bluetooth and a app on play store / app store I assume the app measures the signal strength to determine the proximity to the devices. Maybe some laptops don't turn off Bluetooth in their sleep state or people just weren't putting their laptops to sleep? Could pickup tablets or phones forgotten in cars too.
As he said, that only works if the device is on, which would be really odd in a car. I'm not aware of any that keep comms on in sleep, since those are typically high power draw.
There are various sleep modes and it looks like Bluetooth can be active during some of them.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/device-experiences/bluetooth-power-management-for-modern-standby-platforms
Most MacBooks keep Bluetooth on when in sleep mode. There isn’t even a setting to stop it, the only option is to manually turn Bluetooth off before closing the lid or to use 3rd party software to automate turning it off.
It won't stop theives from being able to obtain them. And it's a legit tool, should we ban all usb because they can be used to steal Hyundai and Kia cars?
It's obvious there are flaws to car manufacturers theft protection. Shit watch LPL, lock noob, Bosnian Bill (hope you're doing well brother) and you will see most locks are a fucking joke.
There are Defcon vids on YouTube that go over how cars can be hacked yet manufacturers are still using these systems
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
This device is probably not what a professional car thief would use. It may be used sometimes by someone messing around, but it's a tool made for an introduction into different types of penetration (testing). It doesn't do anything as well as a more dedicated device would, and it's also not as customizable. If a car is vulnerable to this then it's vulnerable to a lot more things. Also, if someone really wants to steal your car they don't need this device specifically.
More like this
More like hide the problem so no one knows about it. This is the entire locksmith ideology, security through obscurity and that has been working out great hasn't it?
I don't have any faith in our incompetent government to do anything right if it costs corporations money.