Vehicle safety Re: disabling automobile to preclude external control.
By MOE
First, let me state that of all possible risks to any particular individual, this one is a minor one, a possible exception being a blanket intrusion meant to shut down all targeted vehicles to render the vehicles immobile. We as individuals just aren't important enough to bump off.
A previous suggestion was to install a switch in the fuel pump circuit. That would effectively kill the engine, but not protect the vehicle from intrusive control of other systems, such as the brake system, since the ignition switch would still be in the 'On' position, and all other systems would be powered up. Even if one remembered to also turn the ignition switch off, there is no guarantee that external control would be interrupted.
It would be more effective to completely isolate the vehicle control system from external inputs, and that would mean that any and all antennas be disabled. This may be difficult to accomplish, with no certainty that all antennas are identified and disconnected. Even sections of the wiring harness could be designed to function as an antenna. And to fully trace and verify the function of every element of a modern wiring harness would be not be impossible, but extremely difficult and would almost entail removal of every part of the vehicle, and certainly of the body components.
Another alternative would be to completely disconnect the battery from all systems. This could be done very simply, by installing a separate, large relay in the battery positive lead, with a dedicated control circuit and switch. It would be impossible to intervene in its function, since it would be totally autonomous. Jim suggested a physical interrupter for the ECU fuse, but that would not have as comprehensive an effect.
No defensive system can preclude the possibility that alternative power sources or power retention devices are surreptitiously installed in the vehicle, or within components, and all efforts to forestall them would be ineffective. The sole method I can discern to guarantee a fully functioning vehicle, would be to obtain an older, standard transmission vehicle, possibly with no electronic functions, or controls. Cars were once made with ignition point systems, and any vehicle of this vintage would surely be immune to radiowave/electronic tampering.
Keep in mind that after the car is running, cutting the battery out of the circuit won't do anything because the alternator will already be energized and is self perpetuating. A total cutoff circuit at the fuse panel would probably work. This was a nice comprehensive write up, thanks!
People have asked me how to block the signal. Short answer: If your car can run, you can't block the signal. Blocking the signal nowadays means POWER OFF.
By MOE
First, let me state that of all possible risks to any particular individual, this one is a minor one, a possible exception being a blanket intrusion meant to shut down all targeted vehicles to render the vehicles immobile. We as individuals just aren't important enough to bump off.
A previous suggestion was to install a switch in the fuel pump circuit. That would effectively kill the engine, but not protect the vehicle from intrusive control of other systems, such as the brake system, since the ignition switch would still be in the 'On' position, and all other systems would be powered up. Even if one remembered to also turn the ignition switch off, there is no guarantee that external control would be interrupted.
It would be more effective to completely isolate the vehicle control system from external inputs, and that would mean that any and all antennas be disabled. This may be difficult to accomplish, with no certainty that all antennas are identified and disconnected. Even sections of the wiring harness could be designed to function as an antenna. And to fully trace and verify the function of every element of a modern wiring harness would be not be impossible, but extremely difficult and would almost entail removal of every part of the vehicle, and certainly of the body components.
Another alternative would be to completely disconnect the battery from all systems. This could be done very simply, by installing a separate, large relay in the battery positive lead, with a dedicated control circuit and switch. It would be impossible to intervene in its function, since it would be totally autonomous. Jim suggested a physical interrupter for the ECU fuse, but that would not have as comprehensive an effect.
No defensive system can preclude the possibility that alternative power sources or power retention devices are surreptitiously installed in the vehicle, or within components, and all efforts to forestall them would be ineffective. The sole method I can discern to guarantee a fully functioning vehicle, would be to obtain an older, standard transmission vehicle, possibly with no electronic functions, or controls. Cars were once made with ignition point systems, and any vehicle of this vintage would surely be immune to radiowave/electronic tampering.
Keep in mind that after the car is running, cutting the battery out of the circuit won't do anything because the alternator will already be energized and is self perpetuating. A total cutoff circuit at the fuse panel would probably work. This was a nice comprehensive write up, thanks!
People have asked me how to block the signal. Short answer: If your car can run, you can't block the signal. Blocking the signal nowadays means POWER OFF.