For those who live in the Sunshine Coast, including places such as Buderim, Kunda Park, and Maroochydore, a log book car service offers the opportunity for a mechanic to hack into your vehicle’s computer system. While the effects of the hacking are not as portrayed in Hollywood movies, a less-than-scrupulous mechanic may reset the functions so that your car needs more service.
What is Car Hacking?
Since the 1990s more vehicles are being controlled through computer systems which runs the engine, controls the wipers, air conditioning, and even the acceleration. Recent tests demonstrated that such hacking efforts may result in the driver losing control and having it taken over from a remote source, but such instances are quite difficult to create.
This is because a physical connection is needed for many vehicles, which is not possible to do when it’s on the road. However, with the recent introduction of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in some vehicles, it is now possible, although highly unlikely that a remote hacking can take place.
A far more likely scenario is the alteration of vehicle function by a mechanic. A slight change in how the vehicle accelerates, brakes, or smaller things such as the idle speed means more wear and tear on the car or truck. While incidents in the US have demonstrated what happens when quality is lacking, such as causing fatal crashes to occur, the more common danger for those living in the Sunshine Coast are mechanics who take advantage by resetting the computer inside your vehicle.
How a Mechanic can Change Your Vehicle’s Computer System
When performing a car service, a mechanic will plug in an On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) device to the vehicle’s computer. While the diagnostic device itself is designed to read the information, the codes may be changed which alters the performance of the vehicle. From rolling back the odometer in case they take it for a trip to changing the timing of the valves and performance of the vehicle itself.
The result is more wear and tear which means more trips to the mechanic. While the problem itself does not seem pervasive at this point, the problem is that there is very little that can be done at this time to stop a mechanic from tampering with your vehicle in that manner. Because it is their job to find and address issues affecting your vehicle’s performance, limiting access is not practical. Instead, a focus on log book car service in which all changes have been stored will need to be accessed.
The options you have to avoid such a breach starts with relying on a trusted, certified mechanic that has earned a strong reputation in the Sunshine Coast, including places such as Buderim, Kunda Park, and Maroochydore. You should also look for any changes to the vehicle’s performance after leaving the mechanic. If you have suspicions, you can go to another mechanic to check them out and report the findings to the authorities. Contact Harmac Mechanic and Auto Electrician Kunda Park SUNSHINE COAST.
Author – Harmac Automotive