Some years ago there were stories of RFI mucking about with garage door openers. Now we have the “Satanic car key”. As we rely more and more on wireless replacements for mechanical systems, there will be lots of opportunities for “interesting” distributed systems failures…
Stranded motorists in Kent were forced to turn to Ofcom after a rogue car’s central locking system took possession of other vehicles in the same Gravesend car park. More than 12 cars at the Parrock Street car park in the comfortable yet earthy Medway town decided not to open or start on Tuesday, the Beeb reports. […] The regulator’s boffins said they eventually traced the problem to “a small family car [that] was intermittently sending out signals blocking other fobs in a 164ft (50m) radius”.