Toyota hacked by ex-IT worker, sensitive info stolen

George Kennedy — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Technology, Toyota, India

According to Toyota, a former employee has hacked into its computer systems and stolen sensitive information.

According to an Automotive News report, Toyota filed a complaint with the U.S. District Court in Lexington, Kentucky late last week. The complaint was filed against former IT contractor Ibrahimshah Shahulhameed, who Toyota says was fired on August 23. According to the filing, Toyota indicates Shahulhameed logged on to its system the evening of his firing and downloaded and printed trade secrets.

One result of the filing is that Toyota has acquired a restraining order against Shahulhameed, prohibiting him from leaving the United States or disseminating the information that Toyota says is ill-gotten company property.

The specific area that was hacked was ToyotaSupplier.com, a site where the automaker's suppliers exchange highly sensitive information with Toyota about both current and future products.

Toyota states that it will continue to investigate the security breach and do not yet know exactly what has happened with the confidential information. There is the possibility that it may have changed hands, but according to a Toyota manufacturing spokesman, "It's too early to speculate on what-if's."

According to the court documents, Shahulhameed is an Indian citizen who was living in Georgetown, Kentucky, and was apparently about to leave for his native India.

Toyota hacked by ex-IT worker, sensitive info stolen originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Apps coming to future Audi models - but not the way you think

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 20 May 2010 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Audi

When Audi says it is going to have apps available for download to its cars by the end of the decade, it doesn't mean an app like Bejeweled 2 - it means an app like heated seats. Taking the term "app" back to its more expansive origin in "software application," Audi plans to make cars upgradable after the purchase by allowing owners to download software that would activate hardware already installed in the car.

An evolution of the touchscreen introduced on the latest A8 would provide the user interface. Navigation, chassis, and audio software upgrades are mentioned as other possible uses of instant reconfigurability, but with all that's run on code nowadays we imagine almost every aspect of the car could be touched by the development. Along with making its products more adaptive "learning machines," having equipment pre-installed, even if not activated, would also streamline the build and could save the company money over the long term. It could also open open up an interesting opportunity for aftermarket hacking, but we digress...

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Apps coming to future Audi models - but not the way you think originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 May 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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