"Mad at the Internet" - a/k/a My Psychotherapy Sessions

  • 🐕 I am attempting to get the site runnning as fast as possible. If you are experiencing slow page load times, please report it.
Subaru literally had a breaking news scandal where probably millions of their cars had a vulnerability in their smart systems:
  • Subaru began installing their "Starlink" (no relation to Musk's thing, I'm surprised they haven't had a lawsuit yet) infotainment/driver assistance systems in models starting around 2017.
  • Their ad copy for the system claims "STARLINK Safety and Security helps keep you and your Subaru safe whether you’re in your vehicle, at your computer, or on your mobile device. Safety and Security services include Automatic Collision Notification, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Stolen Vehicle Recovery, and the added convenience of Remote Services"
  • Wired released an article claiming that hackers were able to use vulnerabilities in the system to remote start/stop any millions of cars with Starlink installed, as well as track up to three years of location data. (URL: https://www.wired.com/story/subaru-location-tracking-vulnerabilities/)
  • Jalopnik has a much better article stating that it was "whitehat" hackers Sam Curry and Subham Shah who found the vulnerability in November 2024 and didn't publish their findings until it had already been patched. Supposedly it was fixed within 24 hours. (URL: https://jalopnik.com/hackers-crack-subarus-connected-services-to-access-loca-1851746393_)
  • The vulnerability was through the mobile app Javascript code using Subaru admin account logins that could be brute forced.
  • The broader question is why the fuck do Subaru employees with admin access have the ability to track, start, and stop any Subaru on the road by just having access to the VIN.
  • Curry has previously found vulnerabilities in similar systems for other auto manufacturers. Good for him.
  • Also, being in the hacker space, I browsed his twitter and it was only like 3 posts down before there was an MTF in his retweets lol.
I consider myself a fan of Subaru. I've had multiple Subarus that went past 250K miles that I worked on myself. I've lived in places where it snowed frequently and the automobiles proved themself to be capable and dependable. They rank high in safety, owing in part to active electronic safety features. I've had a car literally save my life before because of a brake alert.

This is not some bullshit luxury automaker chasing the dollar of rich morons distracted by shiny new bullshit they don't understand. It's very much a people's brand, with real history and real brand loyalty that they earned the hard way over decades. It's being driven off a cliff at full speed by a tech sector that doesn't give a shit about the implications of the systems they're building.

I'm really not sure the benefits of Subaru's Starlink outweigh the risks, and there's no reason why other active safety features need to send telemetry back to HQ. Companies get away with this stuff because people don't pay attention. The government should not be able to subpoena my car manufacturer and figure out every place I've been since I bought it. They should not be able to turn my fucking car off remotely.
 
Last edited:
Well boys, its Friday and you know what that means: we're dropping lsd and going to a Tchaikovsky concert
a commenter found their new favorite instrument
image_2025-01-24_102446074.png
science/too far/should we, &c.😁
 
Those two arguing brits just taught me a word I've never heard in my entire life. "You're a jobsworth!" "YOU'RE A JOBSWORTH!"

View attachment 6898926
There’s a related form of strike for industries that can’t strike - called work to rule wheee you just start diligently following all the stupid rules.
 
Apparently Trump is doing a crypto pump and dump. Source. Turkey tom, the only news source that can truly be trusted.


I should add. I'm not even black pilled by this. I'm actually looking forward to how entertaining these next few years are going to be. Sometimes you just have to look for what's funny in life.
 
Last edited:
Back