From Hands-free Systems to Tire-pressure Data, a New Field Known as CARINT Turns Vehicles Into Powerful Intelligence Tools

Israeli companies have developed and are selling advanced cyber tools that can hack into the tech of your car and use it to collect intelligence on you.

Three years ago, Haaretz revealed the existence of the offensive cyber intelligence company Toka, which was co-founded by former Prime Minister Ehud Barak and a former Israel Defense Forces cyber chief, Brig. Gen. (ret.) Yaron Rosen. The firm specialized in hacking into security cameras, but as documents obtained by Haaretz at the time revealed, Toka also had a product called CARINT that fused camera data with data linked to cars.

At the time, the industry was in its infancy. But industry sources say that Toka has since expanded its offering on cars. It has developed and even sold a product capable of hacking into a specific vehicle’s multimedia systems, pinpointing its location and tracking its movements; that is, a specific model by a specific manufacturer. The technology can even remotely access the microphone of the vehicle’s hands-free system, allowing eavesdropping on the driver, and even tap into cameras installed on the dashboard or around the car.

  • FineCoatMummy@sh.itjust.works
    3·
    6 hours ago

    100%. If you can bike, that’s both good for your health, AND reduces surveillance.

    We need to push for better bikability especially here in North America. Fortunately my city is good, but so many others are not. Especially for older people who may not be comfortable mixing it up with cars if they bike.

    Of course also now Flock cameras are everywhere, who watch bikes as well as cars. There is no plate on a bicycle, but I have seen allegations they can perform biometric ID of pedestrians and cyclists.

    • hector@lemmy.today
      1·
      3 hours ago

      Those Silicon Valley based bikes that you rent with an app, pick up when you see it, leave it where your destination is, do have cameras and microphones on them I believe, and gps. They totally do spy on you, and by extension your phone, which it turns out is a terrible gossip.

      • FineCoatMummy@sh.itjust.works
        2·
        1 hour ago

        Agreed. I don’t carry a phone today, but I am considering getting a dumbphone + Faraday pouch for emergencies.

        And yah, “smart bikes”… eww.

        • hector@lemmy.today
          2·
          1 hour ago

          I am planning on switching to open source anyway. I think I need to buy a graphene phone for that though, my android I don’t think is capable of loading a different OS, but I’m not savvy that is just what I recall someone telling me.

          Definitely a faraday pouch as well, one that is waterproof and protective to boot even but pocket sized if possible. It’s probably good not to have all those rf waves right next to your balls anyway.

          • FineCoatMummy@sh.itjust.works
            2·
            16 minutes ago

            I think I need to buy a graphene phone for that though, my android I don’t think is capable of loading a different OS,

            I have no experience with it, but they have page here which lists compatible devices, and recommended devices. The recommended ones are a subset, because apparently some older devices lack hardware security features.