The Hidden Tracking Risk Inside Your Tires

About this episode

The episode discusses privacy risks associated with Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems and their potential for vehicle tracking.

In this episode, Tom Eston and co-host Scott Wright discuss research showing that Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) can create privacy risks because the sensors broadcast unencrypted, uniquely identifying wireless signals that could be used to track vehicles. They reference a 10-week study by researchers at IMDEA in Madrid that collected about 6 million signals from over 20,000 cars at roughly 50 meters range, noting the signals can reveal details like tire pressure, car type, weight, and possible driving patterns, and can be captured with about $100 of equipment. The hosts explain TPMS is a safety feature required on 2008+ cars, consider realistic threat models and potential mitigations like rotating identifiers or encryption. ** Links mentioned on the show ** Your Tire Sensors Could Be Used to Hack Your Car. What to Look Out For https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/hacker-threat-hiding-in-car-tire-pressure-system/ Your car’s tire sensors could be used to track you https://networks.imdea.org/your-cars-tire-sensors-could-be-used-to-track-you/ ** Watch this episode on YouTube ** ** Become a Shared Security Supporter ** Get exclusive access to bonus episodes, listen to new…

People in this episode

Hosts: Tom Eston, Scott Wright

Topics covered

• Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems
• privacy risks
• vehicle tracking
• safety features
• encryption

Keywords

• TPMS
• privacy
• tracking
• vehicle safety
• encryption
• tire sensors
• research study

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: IMDEA, CNET

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