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HPD shuts down massive auto theft operation - cyber used to steal

HOUSTON - The Houston Police Department Auto Theft Division discussed Thursday the results of an ongoing investigation in auto thefts.

Police said Jessie Zelaya and Michael Arce stole and illegally exported more than 100 vehicles from the Houston area to Mexico.

The pair targeted Jeep and Dodge vehicles, police said. 

According to investigators, the thieves used laptops and software to manipulate car computers, start them, and then steal them.

Full article: http://www.click2houston.com/news/hpd-discusses-shutdown-of-auto-theft-ring

Texas A&M building $150 million research campus on old air base

Texas A&M University is spending an estimated $150 million to build a 2,000-acre research and education campus just west of its College Station location. Officials released these renderings on May 2, 2017.

Texas A&M will spend $150 million building a 2,000-acre research park and education center on an old air base just west of its main campus between Houston and Austin, college officials announced Monday.  University officials are planning to entice private companies specializing in robotics, autonomous vehicles, chemical safety to set up research and development operations in the research park to get new products ready for the commercial marketplace. For example, the research campus hopefully will be a place to test driverless cars, drones and other autonomous vehicles, university officials said.

Full article: http://m.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Texas-A-M-building-research-campus-on-old-air-base-7387778.php

MOTOR VEHICLES INCREASINGLY VULNERABLE TO REMOTE EXPLOITS

As previously reported by the media in and after July 2015, security researchers evaluating automotive cybersecurity were able to demonstrate remote exploits of motor vehicles. The analysis demonstrated the researchers could gain significant control over vehicle functions remotely by exploiting wireless communications vulnerabilities. While the identified vulnerabilities have been addressed, it is important that consumers and manufacturers are aware of the possible threats and how an attacker may seek to remotely exploit vulnerabilities in the future. Third party aftermarket devices with Internet or cellular access plugged into diagnostics ports could also introduce wireless vulnerabilities.

Modern motor vehicles often include new connected vehicle technologies that aim to provide benefits such as added safety features, improved fuel economy, and greater overall convenience. Aftermarket devices are also providing consumers with new features to monitor the status of their vehicles. However, with this increased connectivity, it is important that consumers and manufacturers maintain awareness of potential cyber security threats.

Full article: http://www.ic3.gov/media/2016/160317.aspx

Emergency Telehealth

Wed, Feb 10, 2016

By Hutton Marshall, BA

David Persse connects patients to physicians via video-call technology

Technology has created a society that allows for unprecedented connectivity. In a matter of seconds, we can contact a family member miles away, a business partner across the country, or a total stranger across the globe. Now, thanks to an innovative new program in Houston, Texas, technology even allows us to connect instantly with a doctor in times of need.

The program is known as ETHAN (Emergency TeleHealth And Navigation), and its creator, David Persse, MD, FACEP, says it allows first responders not only the ability to connect their non-emergency patients with physicians in a moment’s notice, it allows EMS providers the ability to deliver much more responsive, specialized care to patients requiring something other than an ambulance ride to the ED.

Full article: http://www.jems.com/articles/supplements/special-topics/ems-10-innovators-in-ems-2015/emergency-telehealth.html

Bringing UAS to American Skies

The Lone Star UAS Center of Excellence & Innovation (LSUASC), founded at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in 2013, was established in response to an FAA initiative to integrate UAS into the national airspace. LSUASC is composed of a team of highly engaged researchers, entrepreneurs and aviation industry professionals.

Full article: http://lsuasc.tamucc.edu/

 

Hackers Remotely Kill a Jeep on the Highway—With Me in It

I WAS DRIVING 70 mph on the edge of downtown St. Louis when the exploit began to take hold.

Though I hadn’t touched the dashboard, the vents in the Jeep Cherokee started blasting cold air at the maximum setting, chilling the sweat on my back through the in-seat climate control system. Next the radio switched to the local hip hop station and began blaring Skee-lo at full volume. I spun the control knob left and hit the power button, to no avail. Then the windshield wipers turned on, and wiper fluid blurred the glass.

Full article: http://www.wired.com/2015/07/hackers-remotely-kill-jeep-highway/