Take my money!

I think it's interesting how some people on Slashdot find AI use awful and some swear by it. That matches my experiences: Sometimes it's amazing and sometimes wastefully awful.

I'm a firmware guy and even I didn't realize the ubiquity until more recently. Just from my desk chair I can see a dozen devices that have firmware in it: microwave ovens, a desk phone, a cellular phone, monitors, laptops, IC-programming pods and a voltmeter. If I stood up, over the cubicle wall I can add to that list, photocopiers, a vending machine and Wi-Fi access points. I'll skip considering our small computer server room and go to a window to see the dozens of parking lot vehicles, each having dozens of processors in it, including my 25-year old car. All that stuff requires custom knowledge and programming, and I only walked 75 feet. It's everywhere, and for dubious reasons, they come out with new models, requiring new software effort, annually.

Bribe it with oil?

Haha, I can imagine: "Show me the compiler errors but described by a dancing cartoon cat in a short video."

From what I've seen with cheap electronics from overseas, manufacturers getting the certifications seems hit-or-miss. And that's assuming the products are legitimately certified when they have appropriate labeling.

It seems like it would be difficult to police.

Charge a tiny monthly fee? If not, we'll get what we pay for.

I'm not picking on you, but Slashdotters are typically in a different (financial) league than others. Most cars are not garaged. If that's not obvious, look around in other neighborhoods. I've considered an EV and can afford it, but can't have one yet for this reason.

Perhaps marketing/education would be the key: 'New Gravis Zero(tm) hacking protection guaranteed up to $100,000 in damages (federal/law enforcement proof required).' Etc.

(see my post below)

I wonder what the feasibility would be of making volatile memory non-executable. I write firmware, but have never thought of that before.

Further, the cost of routers being a little higher for temporary-user-updating-enabling (switches) seems like it's worth it overall. That is, such "insurance" would be no different than locks we take for granted on our houses, fire extinguishers, spare tires and bringing along an umbrella.

Thanks for the info., though I am ignorant about this area. Hypothetically, if such routers had unalterable firmware (such as from the PROM days), could they still be hacked in such ways?

I don't work for the government, but it would make me look like a superhero! Plus, decaying bones sounds like a terrible affliction.

We once had a portable Faraday cage at work intended for some radio testing when we first added radio to our OEM designs, but the bumbleheads in the shop who were cleaning up threw it away. :(

The "60 Minutes" report (jump to 1:00) interviewed people who were allegedly attacked*", in their home, in the USA.

*Though I believe their story.