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OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

Topic: OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

OBD trackers are produced in hundreds of thousands.
OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?
Published on April 26, 2017
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Yury Lavrentiev
Managing Director at Wagencontrol | Specialist in fuel and weight telematics, CANbus/FMS reading equipment

OBD-plugged GPS trackers are gaining momentum - and for a good reason. Every modern vehicle has a service OBD2 plug. Such plug grants access to many of standard digital buses: CAN, ISO 9141, J1850, as well as power supply. All that makes OBD trackers so popular - they are so easy to install - technicians don’t need to look for a suitable place to install a tracker, plan cabling and search for places to connect to standard sensors and digital interfaces - everything is in one, easily accessible place. Many well-known GPS tracker manufacturers have OBD trackers among their standard offer - Queclink , Teltonika, Ubotech, CalAmp to name a few.

Manufacturers claim that along with usual GPS tracking, such devices can read data on fuel consumption, RPM, engine temperature, etc, and provide users with simple, clear visualization via smartphone on car’s location and performance, fuel use and even provide advice on eco-driving.

But let's not forget, that OBD plug was originally intended for vehicle diagnostics, that is performed within authorized service center. Such diagnostics is, in fact, an active “conversation” between diagnostics device and units within the vehicle. This includes reading of passports of installed units, error reading and debugging, active engine tests, brakes and other crucial units and systems. Some of this activities require active requests to be sent to the network, and they are mandatory for execution - and the corresponding unit will instantly react accordingly.

With the help of diagnostics tools, you can also raise or lower the cargo platform, change the operating mode of the engine, and in some cases, even turn a steering wheel. All that leads to a simple conclusion - some functions of diagnostics have a direct impact on vehicle’s safety. For example, active test of ABS switches on and off brake control valves!


But can OBD tracker send active requests? Short answer - YES

That can happen because of:

Initial intention to make active requests, for example, to read passports of different units and to debug a vehicle - such solutions are marketed as useful feature that can save user’s time on service
Device can be affected by internal failure, that leads to activation of active requests or errors to be sent
Manufacturer’s software can be hacked and changed via over-the-air set-up functions
Are there any tests?

Currently, there is no reliable data on whether manufacturers of such equipment performed any tests or set up any precaution measures. We really have to see results of tests on how devices perform if they are forced to send requests, how easy/hard it is to break into the software, and to what extend manufacturer’s insiders have the power to influence such devices.

Until then, OBD trackers (and regular GPS trackers with a direct electrical connection to CANbus to that matter) can only be considered as a source of real danger to the safety of the vehicle on the road.

Just think about it - if there is a device, that can communicate with crucial units and send orders for immediate execution to brakes, steering wheel, transmission, etc, and at the same time is connected to the internet, it is not hard to draw a picture of potential danger from hackers and terrorists. With a growing number of connected cars and OBD trackers, manufactured in millions, such concerns are more than real, and will only grow over time.


Just a quick example and real story from experience, on what even unintentional mistake by regular telematics installer can lead to - technician simply pressed a wrong button on setup service kit, tracker send message to the vehicle and suddenly all lights on the control panel were lit up and only professional service was able to fix the problem.

Obviously, manufacturers understand the scope of the potential danger, and some, like Mercedes, are trying to prevent such issues on some truck models by internal software. If it senses external message, or unauthorized connection, slows max speed to 40km/h and switches the vehicle into the mode of “driving to the service station”. But not all manufacturers are doing that, and we all know - any software is hackable. Banks and governments that spend billions on internet security often fail - and according to studies, will continue to do so.

In the modern era of internet of things, where everything is connected, hacking is becoming an ever greater threat. Unlike your connected refrigerator or your connected toothbrush (yes, there are connected toothbrushes), vehicles have a real power to harm and even kill people.


Regular GPS trackers have some protection - if they are connected via contactless readers of CANbus (like CANCrocodile by Technoton), they do not form a direct electric connection and cannot send signals to a vehicle, regardless of what is going on with the tracker. But such readers are not suitable for OBD trackers.

So the question is - should OBD trackers be used until a safe way of connection is found, or reliable data based on safety tests is provided? Please share your thought about that!

  • OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?
  • OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?
Спрашивайте про контроль топлива и CAN
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OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

Re: OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

boroda

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OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

Re: OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK0SrxBC1xs

Advanced machinery telematics. www.jv-technoton.com www.mastercan.com
Телематика сложных машин. www.technoton.by
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OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

Re: OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

The answer is very simple: the european and US car manufactors did last month an agreement to block OBD2 port while driving. They also anounced that canbus communication will be encrypted for the future...
So hard times for any "canbus" data!

By the way, physical obd2 connector is not made for a 24/7 connection... i am 100% sure its the wrong horse to bet on.

Wolf.

Politeness dictates it to write his name on a post
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OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

Re: OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

wwbusch aka Buwo wrote:

The answer is very simple: the european and US car manufactors did last month an agreement to block OBD2 port while driving.

sad news for OBD-tracker manufacturers, huh?:)
still, it will take "some" time to implement this decision.

Advanced machinery telematics. www.jv-technoton.com www.mastercan.com
Телематика сложных машин. www.technoton.by
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OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

Re: OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

I was planning to purchase a new OBD tracker.............

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OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

Re: OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

Однако, как vinkel  тему закрутил... )

Но и вправду, видали мы проблемы БК с диагностикой при подключении к CAN...

"Если вы не можете объяснить это своей бабушке, вы сами этого не понимаете."  А.Эйнштейн
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OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

Re: OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

when I met the ODB crawler I was very excited ... because it is very comfortable, but it was not thought of this way.

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OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

Re: OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

I need to have a device that can remotely read the Scania trucks diagnostics error codes(SAE J1939 OBD protocol used in heavy-duty vehicles

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OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

(edited by GuardMagic 09/11/2017 11:51:57)

Re: OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

P.andreev2008 wrote:

boroda

Были реальные прецеденты ...
( потеря управления. Мозги рехнулись ..)

www.guardmagic.com ;
www.tankercontrol.com;

Products for vehicle and fuel monitoring
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OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

Re: OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

Guy, your taxi dispatch software must be so bad that you need to spam this forum!

Politeness dictates it to write his name on a post
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OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

Re: OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

wwbusch aka Buwo wrote:

The answer is very simple: the european and US car manufactors did last month an agreement to block OBD2 port while driving. They also anounced that canbus communication will be encrypted for the future...
So hard times for any "canbus" data!

By the way, physical obd2 connector is not made for a 24/7 connection... i am 100% sure its the wrong horse to bet on.

Wolf.


Hi, can you please share the source of that information, i can't find it.

Desarrollo e integración de sistemas
System development and integration
Разработка системы и интеграция
www.techdev.cl
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OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

Re: OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

...

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OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

Re: OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

techdev wrote:

Hi, can you please share the source of that information, i can't find it.

for example =
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-car- … hieu-noel/

www.guardmagic.com ;
www.tankercontrol.com;

Products for vehicle and fuel monitoring
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OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

Re: OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

According to an announcement made by Christoph Grote, Senior Vice President Electronics at BMW at the VDA Technical Congress in Berlin, German car makers are planning to progressively close the OBD port while the vehicle is being driven.

From the BMW’s announcement, we understand that the vehicle would detect that it is being driven and would then stop the OBD data transfer.

www.guardmagic.com ;
www.tankercontrol.com;

Products for vehicle and fuel monitoring
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OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

Re: OBD-trackers - how big is the danger?

Nice.. Thank you