Why computerized cars are a terrible idea

Here's the symptom:

A High Court judge has blocked three security researchers from publishing details of how to crack a car immobilisation system.

German car maker Volkswagen and French defence group Thales obtained the interim ruling after arguing that the information could be used by criminals.

The technology is used by several car manufacturers.

The academics had planned to present the information at a conference in August.

So what's the cause?  Volkswagen seems to think that a lawyer can stop the Internet.  The researchers point out that (a) their paper did not include the information that Bad Guys would need to do a hack, and (b) the information can be found on the Internet anyway, if you look.  So what does this all mean?  The auto manufacturers seem to be in the same level of awareness as the KTVU TV station that is trying (and trying, and trying) to get their video taken down from Youtube.

There's actually a bigger deal here, involving hardware that would justify a recall.  Volkswagen used a chip in their computer system that allows the security bypass.  There's very likely finger pointing going on between the chip manufacturer and Volkswagen, leading to no action being taken to fix the issue.  The researchers point this out:

"The researchers informed the chipmaker nine months before the intended publication - November 2012 - so that measures could be taken. The Dutch government considers six months to be a reasonable notification period for responsible disclosure. The researchers have insisted from the start that the chipmaker inform its own clients."

Neither VW nor Thales was able to provide comment.

He did it!  No he did!  Uh huh!  Nuh uh!

[rolls eyes]

Meanwhile, Volkswagen owners are at risk of having their cars stolen. That's the reason not to get a car with this sort of computerized nonsense.