I thought I would toss out the topic of hacking for discussion.

I just got notice my VISA card was compromised and needs replaced. They didn’t name the merchant but likely it was due to hacking. Financial hacking is non-stop these days.

We know the Chinese have thousands of people dedicated to hacking into every aspect of American life. If for no other reasons than information is power.

Our own NSA acknowledges hacking into computers all over the world. They pay hackers to find weak spots in software programs that are unreported to the manufacturer and public.

There used to be stories about car jackers. Now it’s car hackers. Hackers can gain access to a modern car’s controller area network bus (electronic nerve system) and then they can pretty much control any feature on a car, including the engine, brakes and in many modern cars, even the steering. There are six wireless ways to gain access identified by researchers at Univ. of Cal. and the Univ. of Wash. The entry points are Bluetooth, remote keyless entry, tire pressure monitoring system, wi-fi, song files, and the up and coming vehicle to vehicle communications for accident avoiding.

Imagine some nut case with a grudge telling your car to drive off a cliff. Don’t think it couldn’t happen. If they can do it to cars, you got’a think they can do it to planes.

Generally speaking there are three types of hackers:
1. People who love the challenge and do so without the intent of harm.
2. Crooks.
3. Terrorists.

It’s number 3 that scares me. . . when you think about power grids, nuc plants, control towers, and the like.

Does this scare you?

 

My S2K has none of those features, unless the key FOB counts. Looks like I dodged a bullet!

 

My new car has many of those features and I'd better hope I don't pi%% anyone off!

I do think about the bad things terrorists can do, but honestly, I don't give it all that much thought. It is totally out of my control.

I have enough day to day stuff occupying my brain, no need to stress on things I can't do anything about.

Maybe I have my head in the sand......................

 

Yeah, we had our credit cards hacked. Got new ones, recovered the funds but what a PIA waiting for new cards, changing pin numbers. The Jeep TJ is safe, the BMW not so. Keep it garaged and try not to think about it. That is why I have insurance and fraud protected accounts.

 

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[font="'Comic Sans MS"]I am reminded of a trivet that my oldest Brother gave to my now ninety-six year old Mother, who has always been a "worry wort". "Worrying is like a rocking chair, it keeps you busy, but does not get you anywhere". [/font]
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[font="'Comic Sans MS"]On the other hand, the only thing that one can do is look at every line on one's credit card statement and make sure it is something that you purchased. The other point is that one is almost always protected when using a credit card from fraud, but that is NOT true if one uses a debit card.[/font]

 

Good one Matt..... rock on.

 

Not true, We have had our debit cards frauded and every time we recovered our loss. Wells Fargo bank is fantastic with fraud and now offers cards with the built in chip to deter fraud.