Researcher: Hackers Can Jam Traffic By Manipulating Real-Time Traffic Data

An anonymous reader writes "Hackers can influence real-time traffic-flow-analysis systems to make people drive into traffic jams or to keep roads clear in areas where a lot of people use Google or Waze navigation systems, a German researcher demonstrated at BlackHat Europe. 'If, for example, an attacker drives a route and collects the data packets sent to Google, the hacker can replay them later with a modified cookie, platform key and time stamps, Jeske explained in his research paper (PDF). The attack can be intensified by sending several delayed transmissions with different cookies and platform keys, simulating multiple cars, Jeske added. An attacker does not have to drive a route to manipulate data, because Google also accepts data from phones without information from surrounding access points, thus enabling an attacker to influence traffic data worldwide, he added.' 'You don't need special equipment for this and you can manipulate traffic data worldwide,' Jeske said."

Nothing new

[xevioso]

There is nothing new about this. I once worked for a guy who bragged to me that as a kid in new Zealand, one of his first hacking exploits was to get into the Auckland traffic control systems and randomly change all the lights to red. He thought it was hilarious. He was an idiot.

Re:Nothing new

[mlts]

AFAIK, lights have two sets of circuits in them to prevent a change to greens in more than one direction. If it does happen, the light switches to "oh crap" mode and starts flashing yellow or green.

Of course, I've seen a traffic signal flashing green before all ways, but that was only once.

Re:not too surprising

[courteaudotbiz]

Anyways, traffic data is so unreliable, it is a joke. Actual traffic is often the exact opposite as the traffic data I get in my car. I don't know for the US, but in Canada, it is completely useless.