Remote car control conspiracies: delirium on steroids
A conspiracy theory claims steroid-fuelled hackers can control cars remotely. Reality or delusion? Facts and analysis of a myth with no evidence.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
The myth of steroid-fuelled hackers remotely controlling cars
A debate thread —which deserves no more attention than a sceptical glance— has brought up a conspiracy theory as picturesque as it is unfounded: that programmers, under the influence of anabolic steroids, could take remote control of cars to terrorise the population. The idea, thrown out with no data or evidence, leans on references to the European Union, mandatory breathalysers and a supposed non-institutionalised power of programmers.
Who's afraid of the car computer?
The central argument is that modern vehicles, with their growing connectivity, are vulnerable to remote attacks. While automotive cybersecurity is a real field —with researchers' reports having demonstrated vulnerabilities in specific models— the notion of a plot orchestrated by drugged programmers to dominate the roads lacks any technical or institutional backing. The discussion veers into anabolic steroids as a catalyst, a claim not even the medical literature on substance abuse supports.
The mirage of conspiracy
The curious thing about the thread is that, amid outbursts and insults, a legitimate concern slips through: technological dependence and the loss of control over the systems we use every day. But the mix of mandatory breathalysers, Gendarmerie chips and culture wars turns any serious analysis into a parody. The data nobody provides —because it doesn't exist— is a single documented case of a mass remote attack on vehicles for social control purposes. Meanwhile, manufacturers keep adding connectivity without the EU, despite the demands of the debate, having proposed any draconian bans.
The conclusion is that, however much some people see hidden hands behind the wheel, reality is more boring: cars are increasingly computers on wheels, and security is a technical challenge, not a plot. But antiestéticar sells better than engineering.
Related threads in the forum
A debate thread —which deserves no more attention than a sceptical glance— has brought up a conspiracy theory as picturesque as it is unfounded: that programmers, under the influence of anabolic steroids, could take remote control of cars to terrorise the population. The idea, thrown out with no data or evidence, leans on references to the European Union, mandatory breathalysers and a supposed non-institutionalised power of programmers.
Who's afraid of the car computer?
The central argument is that modern vehicles, with their growing connectivity, are vulnerable to remote attacks. While automotive cybersecurity is a real field —with researchers' reports having demonstrated vulnerabilities in specific models— the notion of a plot orchestrated by drugged programmers to dominate the roads lacks any technical or institutional backing. The discussion veers into anabolic steroids as a catalyst, a claim not even the medical literature on substance abuse supports.
The mirage of conspiracy
The curious thing about the thread is that, amid outbursts and insults, a legitimate concern slips through: technological dependence and the loss of control over the systems we use every day. But the mix of mandatory breathalysers, Gendarmerie chips and culture wars turns any serious analysis into a parody. The data nobody provides —because it doesn't exist— is a single documented case of a mass remote attack on vehicles for social control purposes. Meanwhile, manufacturers keep adding connectivity without the EU, despite the demands of the debate, having proposed any draconian bans.
The conclusion is that, however much some people see hidden hands behind the wheel, reality is more boring: cars are increasingly computers on wheels, and security is a technical challenge, not a plot. But antiestéticar sells better than engineering.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (10 replies).
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