Software glitches, Fatal results. Boeing 737 Max and now Tesla Autopilot hacked.

Everyone I'm sure has heard about the awful fate of the 2 Boeing 737 Max crashes.

The crashes were linked to a faulty device called the angle-of-attack sensor which incorrectly activated an automated system that caused a nosedive that the pilots could not recover from.  As of yesterday 4/1/19 the fleet remains grounded.

Boeing’s software update for its troubled 737 Max jetliners has been delayed after the company deemed further work was needed on the fix before it was submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The Max, Boeing’s newest plane, was grounded by regulators around the world in March after the crashes of two Max aircraft within five months.

As part of its process to return the Max to the air, Boeing has been working on a software update to new anti-stall system, known as MCAS, that was included in the Max.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/01/business/boeing-737-max-software-fix.html

and now this;

Hackers reveal how to trick a Tesla into steering towards oncoming traffic

It's bad enough when your computer crashes due to a faulty update or glitch in the software.  Hell, I was mad when Sony updated my Android TV and it crashed daily until I got another update.  However, I don't want to think about such errors threatening my well being and health or that of others.

The latest thing to worry about is autopilot on your car.  Hackers have now revealed that they were able to trick Tesla's autopilot feature to steer into the wrong lane remotely.

The team of hackers was able to insert malicious code into the steering wheel controls and connect it to a Bluetooth gamepad controller.

The Autosteer mode of the vehicle use camera feeds and computer vision to navigate traffic lanes.  The researchers were able to tamper with how the vehicle recognizes traffic lanes.

Tencent researchers tested out their theory by applying some simple stickers to a road surface, and this confused the machine vision system enough to go AWOL and, theoretically, could be used to divert these cars into oncoming traffic.

Tesla reports that this is not a real concern of theirs since the driver can simply override Autopilot at any time by using the steering wheel or brakes.   However, Boeing said the same thing about the override for the pitch control on the 737 Max only some pilots had not been trained on this.  I hate to think about the average Tesla driver's abilities, not paying attention or panic overriding correct actions.

Technology is a wonderful thing but when it comes to certain things, people should not become overly reliant upon technology.  Tencent researchers, the hacker group who brought this to light, did so in the name of safety.  I'd hate to think what a teenager would do with the knowledge and capability to execute this.

When it comes to Tesla, the company is not exempt from the same security concerns -- having recently been hacked at Pwn2Own -- but the vehicle range's computer systems can also come in useful, too, beyond Autopilot. Earlier this week, the Tesla's Model 3 new Sentry Mode caught a vandal in the act while she was scratching up the car, leading to her arrest. 

Read the entire article at;

https://www.zdnet.com/article/hackers-reveal-how-to-trick-a-tesla-into-steering-towards-oncoming-traffic/?ftag=TRE-03-10aaa6b&bhid=27630927001468733386426006914379