:: So if you're in the car and you plug into the OBD port, you can
:: unlock the
:: doors, apply the brakes, and shut the engine off?

I used to have a Nissan Silvia (SX something or other in the US), the 
one and only ECU was in the passenger footwell (RHD version), just by 
accessing the wiring loom I was able to attach external equipment that 
used the information being sent to it (read only) for a data logger I 
had made. Although this ECU didn't have an OBD interface, it would 
have been easy to block the signal that allowed the ignition to work.

Besides, the team did have to use a protocol sniffer to hunt down the 
packet formats and of course then work out what the data meant. I 
assume much of this would be outside the standard OBD specification as 
I wouldn't be surprised if manufacturers didn't add in their own 
proprietary bits and pieces on top of the stuff that is ' open ' under 
the OBD protocol.

I think it was Mercedes but could be wrong, showed many eons ago a 
prototype system where the car ' rang ' up the garage and booked 
itself in for a service if it was feeling a little poorly, received a 
booking number and informed the driver. If that system came into being 
just imagine how vulnerable your car could become.

I'm off to ensure my microwave and toaster haven't been infiltrated 
and programmed to set light to the house whilst I'm not looking.

Colin
--
cdb, colin@btech-online.co.uk on 18/05/2010
 
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