simple way to keep a car from reaching speeds of 100 miles per hour push the dam gear lever into neutral
Computer Jim - 14 years ago
It's too early to tell so the poll is just a best guess. If you want an educated guess on this specific malfunction involving Mrs. Smith then I would add, “deliberate computer malfunction” to the poll selection list as a possibility. I watched several hours of this on C-Span today and realized that Toyota does not have a clue what is causing the situation where some vehicles randomly accelerate at full power – it’s not the pedal. Being of suspicious nature and having over 30 years experience in the computing industry with fortune 100 companies, I have a hunch and I don’t like it. I believe it is possible that a computer virus is to blame. Diagnostic equipment interfaces the vehicle’s computers during servicing to provide information to maintenance technicians. I believe that these same machines are also connected to the Internet periodically to receive updated diagnostic information and software. Do they run a bulletproof operating system? Short of a mainframe, does one even exist? One speaker, I believe it was James Lentz, said something that sealed the theory for me. He said that the software in the vehicle’s computer on some models could be “flashed” with an update. Flashing is a process where software is downloaded. The problem as described is so insidious that it is almost self evident to be deliberate. If I owned a Toyota or Lexus, the last thing I would let anyone do is to connect it to the Internet. Who could do it? Good question. The talent required might be a bit above the average drive by hacker but not for government’s, especially ones that support terrorism. This theory might also work as a good "muddy water" defense when called to testify before Congress. It is very possible and falls slightly short of declaring "an act of god".
simple way to keep a car from reaching speeds of 100 miles per hour push the dam gear lever into neutral
It's too early to tell so the poll is just a best guess. If you want an educated guess on this specific malfunction involving Mrs. Smith then I would add, “deliberate computer malfunction” to the poll selection list as a possibility. I watched several hours of this on C-Span today and realized that Toyota does not have a clue what is causing the situation where some vehicles randomly accelerate at full power – it’s not the pedal. Being of suspicious nature and having over 30 years experience in the computing industry with fortune 100 companies, I have a hunch and I don’t like it. I believe it is possible that a computer virus is to blame. Diagnostic equipment interfaces the vehicle’s computers during servicing to provide information to maintenance technicians. I believe that these same machines are also connected to the Internet periodically to receive updated diagnostic information and software. Do they run a bulletproof operating system? Short of a mainframe, does one even exist? One speaker, I believe it was James Lentz, said something that sealed the theory for me. He said that the software in the vehicle’s computer on some models could be “flashed” with an update. Flashing is a process where software is downloaded. The problem as described is so insidious that it is almost self evident to be deliberate. If I owned a Toyota or Lexus, the last thing I would let anyone do is to connect it to the Internet. Who could do it? Good question. The talent required might be a bit above the average drive by hacker but not for government’s, especially ones that support terrorism. This theory might also work as a good "muddy water" defense when called to testify before Congress. It is very possible and falls slightly short of declaring "an act of god".