Hackers Shift Gears: Cyber Attacks Threaten Tour de France Racers
Researchers have found that wireless gear-shifting systems in high-end bikes, like those used in the Tour de France, are vulnerable to cybersecurity attacks. These attacks can manipulate gear shifts or disable them entirely, potentially causing crashes or injuries.
Hot Take:
Who knew that the Tour de France might one day need cyber bodyguards? The only thing more surprising than wireless gear-shifting tech is that someone actually found a way to hack it from 10 meters away. Move over, performance-enhancing drugs; here come the performance-enhancing hackers!
Key Points:
- Researchers from UC San Diego and Northeastern University found cybersecurity vulnerabilities in high-end bikes’ wireless gear-shifting systems.
- Attacks could manipulate gear shifts, potentially causing crashes or injuries.
- The study focused on Shimano Di2 wireless gear-shifting technology, the market leader.
- Attackers can record and retransmit gear shift commands from up to 10 meters away using off-the-shelf devices.
- Shimano is working on patching the vulnerabilities based on researchers’ recommendations.
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