Teslas are among the many least stolen autos, because of security and distant entry options. Nonetheless, intrepid criminals have discovered methods to avoid these measures by disabling the GPS monitoring gadgets contained in the automobiles. With the Mannequin 3 Highland, thieves’ jobs are a lot simpler now.
Even when somebody is daring (or idiot) sufficient to steal a Tesla, the proprietor and the carmaker can observe the car remotely, because of a GPS monitoring machine embedded into the automobile. This raises the probabilities {that a} stolen Tesla will be recovered. Tesla also can blacklist it, so it is of no worth to a possible purchaser. However that does not imply a Tesla is inconceivable to steal, or thieves do not steal Teslas. Solely final month, police took down a Tesla theft ring in Portland, OR, which used an ingenious methodology to steal the automobiles.
The thieves disabled the monitoring machine within the Teslas to make them inconceivable to trace. This isn’t inconceivable, and it is the very first thing thieves attempt to do when coping with a Tesla. It isn’t fairly easy, although, because the communication module is embedded within the infotainment system. After disabling the module, they will take the stolen automobile to a spot the place it’s often torn aside to be bought for elements. Nevertheless unhappy that is, that is the best way issues go. It is a lot simpler to promote elements of a Tesla which might be troublesome to hint than the car as an entire.
With the Mannequin 3 Highland, Tesla may need inadvertently made the thieves’ jobs a lot simpler. As a substitute of integrating the GSM modem on the infotainment PCB as earlier than, Tesla opted for a separate terrestrial communication module (TCM) put in into the headliner. From there, it is linked to the infotainment system by a gigabit ethernet (Broadreach) connection. The cable is far simpler to entry than the communications module in earlier Tesla fashions, so this will likely be a boon for automobile thieves.
The data has been revealed by moral hacker Inexperienced (@greentheonly), who tore aside the infotainment system of the Mannequin 3 Highland. It is unclear why Tesla selected this answer, however it’s in all probability a cost-cutting measure. The separate daughterboard can be simpler to switch if the know-how adjustments, which occurred when 3G networks shut down a 12 months in the past.
the bizarre usb3 connector on board was changed by a full blown usb-c with lock mechanism not not like mini-USB used for USB2 ports.
In addition they (for now?) switched again to the outdated gateway chips.
Additionally nonetheless 8GB non-ECC RAM pic.twitter.com/n0ffM6EaFn
— inexperienced (@greentheonly) November 7, 2023
