Major Software Flaw Leaves Ford and Volkswagen Cars Vulnerable to Hackers

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Companies across industries partner for various reasons, and their collaborations eventually yield mutual benefits. That’s the case with Ford, Volkswagen, and other auto manufacturers using BlackBerry software in their vehicles. BlackBerry establishes itself as a leader in safety-critical software, and the automakers leverage such technology.

But unfortunately, a major flaw in certain BlackBerry software installed in certain Ford, Volkswagen, and other automakers’ vehicles has left them vulnerable to nefarious hackers. And the results could be catastrophic.

The software in Ford, Volkswagen, and other models

Ford logo | Alvin Chan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

BlackBerry QNX is a Unix-like operating system using software in older-model Ford and Volkswagen vehicles for a broad range of critical systems. They include secure data gateways, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and digital cockpits.

Additionally, BlackBerry QNX has shaped the future of the automotive industry. That’s a result of design wins with 23 of the top 25 EV automakers. The company also provides a secure, safe, and reliable software foundation for autonomous driving systems.

It’s also worth mentioning that most BlackBerry QNX software products used in vehicles’ electronic control units are licensed on a per-unit royalty basis.

A flaw leaves Ford, VW, and other automakers’ vehicles vulnerable to hackers

The BlackBerry software has a cybersecurity defect that might put medical equipment and vehicles that use it at risk by exposing susceptible systems to hackers. The warning came after the Canadian company disclosed vulnerability in its QNX Real-Time Operating System (QNX RTOS). 

This vulnerability can allow attackers to flood a server with traffic until it gets paralyzed or crashes, or they can also execute an arbitrary code. Various automakers, including Ford and Volkswagen, use the software in multiple critical functions, including ADAS. 

BlackBerry says the problem affects only older versions of the QNX RTOS dating from 2012 and earlier. The company also indicates that those using this software’s current or recent versions should not worry about the vulnerability. Still, the flaw has left almost 2 million vehicles vulnerable to attackers. The defect gives hackers a way to attack these systems remotely.

As of this writing, there have been no reports of active exploitation of this flaw that can allow malicious actors to gain control of susceptible systems, but BlackBerry has since made software patches available to resolve the issue, Reuters reports.

Mitigation suggestions for the software defect

Today, cybersecurity is a concern for most businesses, including software companies. So such firms need to inform their customers when they experience a security flaw. BlackBerry made such a public disclosure on August 17 after a BadAlloc vulnerability affected the firm’s QNX RTOS. 

BadAlloc is a collection of vulnerabilities that affect several RTOSs and supporting libraries as well. As such, critical infrastructure entities and other companies using, developing, supporting, or maintaining QNX-based systems should patch affected products promptly, the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) suggests. Also, end-users of safety-critical systems should contact the manufacturer to ensure their product gets a patch.

CISA also advises manufacturers of products that use vulnerable versions of BlackBerry’s software to contact the company to obtain the patch they need.

RELATED: Something Smells Funny With Ford’s New Mustang Mach-E GT Ploy

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How Carburetors Are Made

by Gabrielle DeSantis

We may be witnessing the sunset of the internal combustion engine, but vintage muscle cars and other vintage vehicles are not going away anytime soon. There is too much “soul” and nostalgia tied to performance cars of the past. Enthusiasts cannot let them go, nor should they.

At the heart of every vintage muscle car is the carburetor. Before the age of computer-controlled fuel injection, carburetors controlled a car’s air/fuel ratio. Compared to fuel injection, people tend to look at carburetors as simplistic. In actuality, they are a very complex and nuanced device.

Destin from the YouTube channel Smarter Every Day became interested in how carburetor’s worked and created a video that simplified the process. However, he got a lot of negative feedback from his audience and was criticized for perhaps over-simplifying. So, Destin decided to visit the Holley Performance factory to learn more about how they are made and what makes them so impressive.

Carburetors have a ‘brain’

Carburetor metering plate | Holley Performance

Traditionally, carburetors are not controlled by computers. However, that does not mean they do not have a brain. The primary function is to mix air and then send that mixture to the engine for detonation. In a vehicle equipped with fuel injection, the injectors are controlled with software that calculates the exact air/fuel ratio for optimal performance.

Carburetors use something called a “metering block” that performs the same process. Often referred to as the “brain” of the carburetor, the metering block features precisely machined pathways called “circuits.” Metering blocks have three circuits: an idle circuit, a transition circuit, and a wide-open throttle circuit used when the driver is going for maximum speed. These circuits are machined to exact tolerances to ensure that they function correctly, so they are cut with a CNC machine to guarantee accuracy.

A top-secret machine is used for testing

An Holley Performance employee using their secret proprietary carburetor testing machine.
Holley Performance secret test machine in use | SmarterEveryDay YouTube

The amazing thing about carburetors is that they rely purely on precision machining to perform their functions correctly. Each carburetor’s groove, channel, and pathway serves a purpose and is connected to something else. As we previously mentioned, carburetors are quite complex.

Naturally, since there is no software involved in a carburetor’s main function, tests must be performed manually. Destin learned that Holley Performance has a special machine to test carburetors, but he had to blur it out in the video because the way the machine works is proprietary. Despite not being able to show it on camera, Destin learned that the machine can completely simulate the carburetor being attached to a running engine.

Watch carburetors get made from beginning to end

How Carburetors are Made | SmarterEveryDay YouTube

We have only provided a few highlights on the complete path of carburetor production. We would highly recommend checking out the full video to see and learn more. Granted, it is about 30 minutes long, so it is not a brief watch. 

Though, we think that there is a lot to learn from Destin’s tour of the Holley Performance factory. Destin also loves to ask questions, so there is rarely a moment in the video when the viewers are not learning something. 

We were pretty fascinated to learn that something most people think is simple is actually one of the greatest feats of engineering and is still evolving to this day.

RELATED: How Do You Adjust a Carburetor?

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Hundreds of Ford Ranger Trucks Left Under Taliban Control as U.S. Military Leaves Afghanistan

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Anyone who has seen the news lately knows America’s botched plan to remove its military from Afghanistan. As U.S. officials scramble to devise military and diplomatic strategies, hundreds of military-spec Ford Ranger pickup trucks, among other supplies and resources, have been left behind. Learn more about the unfolding situation below. 

The United States’ recent departure from Afghanistan

The United States had been at war with Afghanistan since 2001, making it America’s longest war. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, former President George W. Bush signed a joint resolution into law allowing the use of force on those deemed responsible for the terror attacks on the U.S. on September 11, 2001.

Since then, American troops have served in Afghanistan in varying numbers over the past 20 years through four administrations. In November 2020, the Trump administration announced plans to halve the number of military personnel in Afghanistan by January 2021. After his inauguration, President Joe Biden announced his plans to withdraw from the country by September 11 this year.

Earlier this month, the Taliban took over Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, and the group now has control over many aspects of the country. It’s a scary time for Afghans, many of whom are desperately trying to flee their homeland.  

The military left behind hundreds of Ford Ranger pickup trucks

A row of Ford Ranger trucks parked along a barbwire fence in Afghanistan | Knut Müller/ullstein bild via Getty Images

When pulling troops out of Afghanistan, U.S. forces have left behind many important resources, giving the Taliban access to powerful vehicles and weapons that the U.S. military used. Over 900 military-spec Ford Ranger trucks remained in the country, and a whopping 877 have been captured, while 24 have been destroyed, Autoblog reports.

The U.S. military has used Ford Ranger trucks for years, and it tapped Ricardo, an upfitter in the United Kingdom, to outfit the trucks to make them more military-appropriate. The Ford Ranger Ricardo features a higher ride height, improved springs, and upgraded brakes.

They also come with Ricardo’s rollover protection system, though the U.S. government has kept details of this mechanism largely under wraps. These trucks are also outfitted with strong armor and bullet-proof glass to keep troops safe.

Other vehicles the United States left in Afghanistan

Other than Ford Ranger Ricardo models, hundreds of other High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV) have been captured or destroyed. These vehicles are also known as Humvees, which the U.S. Army describes as “a lightweight, highly mobile, high-performance, diesel-powered four-wheel drive, air-transportable and air-droppable family of tactical vehicles. The HMMWV supports combat and combat service support units with a versatile, mission-configurable, tactical wheeled vehicle.”

In addition, the Taliban has seized over 300 Navistar International 7000- and 8000-series support vehicles. The 7000 series is a line of heavy-lift vehicles, and the U.S. Army ordered thousands of these trucks in 2005 and 2008. The Navistar International 8000-series, now called the International TranStar, is a line of Class 8 trucks mostly used for shipping.

Last, about 60 M1117 Armour Security Vehicles and a dozen tanks were left behind. According to Army Technology, the M1117 is also known as the Guardian, a 4×4 vehicle whose heavy armor protects its interior from gunfire and mines.

The situation in Afghanistan isn’t playing out the way the U.S. had hoped, and it’s impossible to say for sure how things will proceed. But the capture of these vehicles has only heightened the difficulty and terror of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.

RELATED: 25 Badass Military Vehicles at Work in the U.S. Armed Forces

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Watch a $9.4 Million Bugatti Centodieci Hit 186 MPH Without Breaking a Sweat

by Gabrielle DeSantis

SSC’s Tuatara didn’t break the 300-mph barrier, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other 200-mph-plus speed demons out there. And Bugatti is a notable purveyor of such high-speed hypercars. From the original Veyron to the upcoming Bolide, this brand thrives on speed. So much so, that the Bugatti Centodieci makes hitting 186 mph seem almost easy.

The Bugatti Centodieci turns the Chiron into an EB110 homage

From left to right: A Bugatti EB110 LM, Centodieci, and EB110 CS at Nardo | Bugatti

While the Veyron might be one of Bugatti’s most well-known modern cars, it had a precedent—sort of. Before it was resurrected under the Volkswagen umbrella, an Italian industrialist named Romano Artioli tried to bring Bugatti back in the late 1980s. Ultimately, the revival was short-lived, but it did produce a car: the Bugatti EB110.

With a 553-hp, quad-turbo 3.5-liter V12, AWD, carbon-fiber construction, and a six-speed manual, the EB110 “ticked all the right industry-leading supercar boxes,” MotorTrend says. And that was the early GT model. The later EB110 SS was 330 lbs lighter and had 50 more hp, with a 221-mph top speed and a 3.2-second 0-60 mph time. But even with such performance and tech, Artioli’s venture folded after making just 139 cars.

The side view of a white Bugatti Centodieci in a dark warehouse
Bugatti Centodieci side | Bugatti

However, just like the Countach, Bugatti recently brought the EB110 back—again, sort of. The Bugatti Centodieci (Italian for ‘110’) is a modern homage to the ‘90s hypercar. And like the earlier Divo, the Centodieci is based on the Bugatti Chiron. Only that doesn’t just mean some fancy new body panels.

Like the ‘regular’ Chiron, the Bugatti Centodieci has a mid-mounted 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 engine and AWD. But while the Chiron has to make do with ‘just’ 1,479 hp, the Centodieci has 1,578 hp. It’s also 44 lbs lighter than the Chiron, MT reports, thanks to more carbon-fiber components and a lighter windshield.

And unlike the Chiron, the Centodieci’s rear wing is fixed in place, Autoweek says. That’s to better balance the additional aero benefits from the upgraded rear diffuser, front splitter, and redesigned hood. Finally, the EB110 homage is lower and wider than the Bugatti Chiron.

Bugatti tuned the Centodieci at 186 mph—but the hypercar can go even faster

The ‘standard’ Bugatti Chiron is already an impressively fast car. So, how much faster is the Bugatti Centodieci? Well, it’s complicated.

Despite the extra power and lower curb weight, the Centodieci’s 0-62 mph time matches the Chiron’s time: 2.4 seconds. And those aerodynamic tweaks actually give the Centodieci a lower top speed, The Drive explains. The Chiron goes up to 261 mph, while the Centodieci is limited to 236 mph. Plus, Bugatti claims the Centodieci hits 124 mph in 6.1 seconds and 186 mph in 13.1 seconds. But based on Car and Driver’s Chiron Sport test, the less-powerful hypercar can hit those speeds in 5.7 and 12.9 seconds, respectively.

However, like the Divo and the Chiron Pur Sport, the Bugatti Centodieci’s shtick isn’t straight-line speed. It’s designed for carving racetracks and sweeping roads. And it’s supposed to be fun and easy to drive, too.

Hence why, when Motor1 recently got to sit in the Centodieci’s passenger seat during development testing, the prevailing feeling was one of unexpected speed. Even though development driver Loris Bicocchi has been testing supercars for over 30 years, the Centodieci’s speed and power still surprise him. And even though it’s still not quite finished, Bicocchi and his passenger hit 186 mph in the video above like it’s nothing. This is while Bicocchi actively laps the Centodieci around the twisting, turning Nardo test track.

The Chiron might be faster on paper, but the Centodieci will likely leave it behind when the pavement curves.

Even if you have the cash, you can’t have this hypercar

Sadly, as Motor1 remarks in that video, few enthusiasts will ever experience the Bugatti Centodieci’s speed. Bugatti is only making 10 examples. And even though the Centodieci starts at roughly $9.4 million, buyers have already claimed all 10.

Still, here’s proof that the Centodieci has the effortless speed to match its looks.

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RELATED: Will We Ever See the Bugatti Bolide Race at Le Mans?

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