RANSOMWARE

RANSOMWARE

VW POLO HIGHLINE

Do you know what Ransomware is? Well, for those who don't know, it is a type of computer malware that encrypts your computer documents, photos, databases, files and other general computer data, then demands payment (ransome) to obtain the decryption key. Computer hijackers and hackers normally spread Ransomware, attached to an emails that once executed, opens a security hole in your computer system for them to exploit. The latest ransomware makes use of your computer's RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) port to gain access to computers holding sensitive information. The RDP port is aka as port 3389. However ransomware is not limited to laptops, notebooks and desktop computers, virtually every device that are connected to an IoT (Internet of  Things) platform can be encrypted for ransom and the possibilities are quite varied. An IoT platform is essentially a suite of interrelated Internet enabled devices that deploy  applications that manage, monitor, and control connected devices.

The Internet of Things embrace technologies like Wi-FI, UWB, CAN bus, Bluetooth, ZigBee, RFID (radio frequency identification), GSM OnStar Telematics (GPS,  Tracking & remote door unlocking, Voice recognition & wireless Internet connection) Flexray, sensors, smart phones, smart homes, digital machines and mechanical objects, people or even animals that are allocated a unique identifiers -IPv6 address- with the innate ability to transfer data over a network. 

Can you imagine a hijacker capable of hacking healthcare IoT devices and medical implants; holding pacemaker patients hostage demanding payment or he will turn off their device, without any need for physical contact.  Can you imagine your car demanding money before it will start? Yes, I'm sure you can. Every VW Audi, Skoda and Seat or for that matter every car truck or tractor that was manufactured before 1996 with its glut of sensors, smart relays and internet connected telematics can hold its owner to ransom. An ECU may not hold ransomware per se but it might as well be because every time your cars coughs or sneezes it demands money. And when it refuses to start, it is as if you are being blackmailed by Volkswagen Audi Seat or Skoda into paying them some money before they get your car to start.  

I have a friend who owns a Porsche that he hardly ever drives. When he attempted starting her after about a month in the garage, the  multi-function dashboard display lit-up in red, displaying "battery/alternator visit workshop", then reverted to its normal colours displaying "undervoltage consumer defective". When the specialist Porsche mechanic arrived and jump started the car, several other light that were never on started to light up. Like the brake pad warning light, oil level monitoring failure and the check engine light and finally the  visit workshop message.

Understandably, the amount of automation in our cars today are suppose to make them safer, better and cheaper to maintain but the converse is true. The average VW owner spends virtually 30% of the value of the car before they finally give up on the car. This implies that by the time three VW owners get rid of their cars, Volkswagen got paid for four. VAG car keys are another hijack or ransome. 

Not too long ago I locked my keys in the boot of my VW Polo Highline. I simply thought just buying another key would solve all my problems. But I was mistaken nor was it that simple. I had to furnish them with my Particulars of purchase, copy of registration document,  and the VIN, just to prove that th car belonged to me. The cost of the key wasn't a few hundred rands but a few thousand rands from the a VW dealer, but that's just for the key. It still had to be programmed at a undeclared cost, so that the RFID transponder in the steering stalk of the car can communicate with the key. If that's not holding car owners to ransom then I don't know what is.

All the VW Polo Highline vehicles held to ransom by Volkswagen.
vw polo highline
volkswagen polo 1.2 l highline
volkswagen polo 1.2 l highline d
volkswagen polo 1.2 mpi highline
volkswagen polo 1.2 tsi highline 5d
volkswagen polo 1.2 tsi highline neupreis
volkswagen polo 1.4 5p. highline
volkswagen polo 1.4 highline 75cv
volkswagen polo 1.4 highline 75cv 3p
volkswagen polo 1.4 highline 75cv 5p
volkswagen polo 1.4 highline 75cv opiniones
volkswagen polo 1.4 highline 80cv
volkswagen polo 1.4 tdi highline 75cv
volkswagen polo 1.4 tdi highline 75cv 5p
volkswagen polo 1.4 tdi highline 75cv consumo
volkswagen polo 1.4 tdi highline 80cv
volkswagen polo 1.6 l highline
volkswagen polo 1.6 l highline review
volkswagen polo 1.6 tdi highline usata
volkswagen polo 1.9 tdi highline 96kw for sale
volkswagen polo 6n2 highline
volkswagen polo classic 1.6 highline nasıl
volkswagen polo highline 1 4
volkswagen polo highline accessories
volkswagen polo highline audio system
volkswagen polo highline ausstattung
volkswagen polo highline black
volkswagen polo highline blue
volkswagen polo highline bluetooth
volkswagen polo highline colours
volkswagen polo highline deep black
volkswagen polo highline diesel mileage
volkswagen polo highline diesel on road price
volkswagen polo highline diesel on road price bangalore
volkswagen polo highline diesel on road price in chennai
volkswagen polo highline diesel on road price in hyderabad
volkswagen polo highline diesel price in india
volkswagen polo highline diesel review
volkswagen polo highline diesel second hand
volkswagen polo highline diesel used
volkswagen polo highline diesel used cars
volkswagen polo highline images
volkswagen polo highline india
volkswagen polo highline india review
volkswagen polo highline interior photos
volkswagen polo highline interiors
volkswagen polo highline km 0
volkswagen polo highline mexico
volkswagen polo highline mileage
volkswagen polo highline model
volkswagen polo highline occasion
volkswagen polo highline on road price
volkswagen polo highline petrol features
volkswagen polo highline petrol mileage
volkswagen polo highline petrol on road price bangalore
volkswagen polo highline petrol user reviews
volkswagen polo highline price bangalore
volkswagen polo highline price in chennai
volkswagen polo highline price in mumbai
volkswagen polo highline r line
volkswagen polo highline red
volkswagen polo highline review
volkswagen polo highline review team bhp
volkswagen polo highline specifications
volkswagen polo highline specs
volkswagen polo highline sr
volkswagen polo highline tdi
volkswagen polo highline tyre size
volkswagen polo highline vs gt
volkswagen polo highline vs hyundai i20 asta
volkswagen polo highline vs swift zxi
volkswagen polo highline white
volkswagen polo india highline price
volkswagen polo reviews highline petrol
vw polo 1 2 tsi 105 highline 5d
vw polo 1 6 tdi 105 highline 5d
vw polo 1 6 tdi 90 highline bm 5d
vw polo 1 6 tdi highline
vw polo 1.2 cr highline bsiv
vw polo 1.2 cr highline bsiv price
vw polo 1.2 highline 64ps
vw polo 1.2 highline review
vw polo 1.2 tsi dsg highline
vw polo 1.2 tsi dsg highline optimum
vw polo 1.2 tsi highline eu
vw polo 1.2 tsi highline forum
vw polo 1.2 tsi highline jahreswagen
vw polo 1.2 tsi highline kopen
vw polo 1.2 tsi highline pepper grey
vw polo 1.2 tsi highline r-line
vw polo 1.4 fsi highline
vw polo 1.4 highline
vw polo 1.4 highline gebraucht
vw polo 1.4 highline nasıl
vw polo 1.6 tdi highline gebraucht
vw polo 1.6 tdi highline km 0
vw polo 1.9 tdi highline
vw polo 1.9 tdi highline 74kw
vw polo 1.9 tdi highline 96kw
vw polo 1.9 tdi highline 96kw for sale
vw polo 1.9 tdi highline for sale
vw polo 2.0 highline for sale
vw polo 2.0 highline fuel consumption
vw polo 2.0 highline review
vw polo 2.0 highline specs
vw polo 5 highline
vw polo 50 servo highline
vw polo 60 servo highline
vw polo 6c highline
vw polo 6n highline
vw polo 6n2 highline ausstattung
vw polo 6r highline
vw polo 6r highline ausstattung
vw polo 6r highline test
vw polo 81 kw highline
vw polo 9n highline
vw polo 9n highline ausstattung
vw polo 9n3 highline
vw polo classic 2.0 highline
vw polo classic 2.0 highline for sale
vw polo gp 1.2 tsi highline
vw polo highline
vw polo highline 1 2 tsi
vw polo highline 1 4 tdi
vw polo highline 1.2 tsi
vw polo highline 1.2 tsi 2014
vw polo highline 1.2 tsi 2015
vw polo highline 1.2 tsi dsg
vw polo highline 1.2 tsi test
vw polo highline 1.4
vw polo highline 1.4 16v
vw polo highline 1.4 2010
vw polo highline 1.6
vw polo highline 1.6 tdi
vw polo highline 1.6 tdi dpf
vw polo highline 1.6 tdi dpf 90ps 7-dsg
vw polo highline 2006
vw polo highline 2009
vw polo highline 2010
vw polo highline 2011
vw polo highline 2013
vw polo highline 2013 india
vw polo highline 2014
vw polo highline 2015
vw polo highline 2016
vw polo highline 2017
vw polo highline 90 ps
vw polo highline ablagefach
vw polo highline adac test
vw polo highline ausstattung
vw polo highline automatik
vw polo highline autoscout24
vw polo highline baujahr 2000
vw polo highline black
vw polo highline diesel
vw polo highline diesel 2013
vw polo highline diesel 2014
vw polo highline diesel ebay
vw polo highline diesel gebraucht
vw polo highline diesel india
vw polo highline diesel price
vw polo highline diesel review
vw polo highline diesel review team bhp
vw polo highline dsg
vw polo highline eu neuwagen
vw polo highline executive
vw polo highline facelift
vw polo highline features
vw polo highline for sale
vw polo highline gebraucht
vw polo highline gebraucht kaufen
vw polo highline gebrauchtwagen
vw polo highline india
vw polo highline interior
vw polo highline jahreswagen
vw polo highline kaufen
vw polo highline km 0
vw polo highline konfigurator
vw polo highline konfigurieren
vw polo highline kopen
vw polo highline leasing
vw polo highline lenkrad
vw polo highline limousine
vw polo highline mexico
vw polo highline music system
vw polo highline navi
vw polo highline neu
vw polo highline neues modell
vw polo highline neupreis
vw polo highline neuwagen
vw polo highline nieuw
vw polo highline pepper grey
vw polo highline petrol
vw polo highline petrol 2011
vw polo highline petrol 2013
vw polo highline petrol price
vw polo highline petrol review
vw polo highline petrol team bhp
vw polo highline petrol user review
vw polo highline plus
vw polo highline price
vw polo highline price in chennai
vw polo highline price in kolkata
vw polo highline r line
vw polo highline review
vw polo highline second hand
vw polo highline shadow blue
vw polo highline specials
vw polo highline specification
vw polo highline specs
vw polo highline tageszulassung
vw polo highline tdi
vw polo highline te koop
vw polo highline team bhp
vw polo highline test
vw polo highline tsi
vw polo highline tsi test
vw polo highline tyre size
vw polo highline tyres
vw polo highline udstyr
vw polo highline usado
vw polo highline usata
vw polo highline velgen
vw polo highline video
vw polo highline vs comfortline
vw polo highline vs sr
vw polo highline vs swift zdi
vw polo highline vs swift zxi
vw polo highline weiß
vw polo highline wiki
vw polo highline xenon
vw polo highline youtube
vw polo trendline comfortline of highline
vw polo tsi highline for sale
vw polo tsi highline manual
vw polo tsi highline review
vw polo unterschied comfortline highline
vw polo unterschied trendline comfortline highline
vw polo v highline
vw polo variant highline

vw polo wersja highline

RECALL

FLASH OF DEATH

The Volkswagen emissions scandal has hardly died down, when we heard that Volkswagen is in the dog box once again. The German car giant is in the process of 

'recalling  as many as 3 million 

Volkswagen's, Audi's, Seats 

and Skoda's  worldwide'

due to DSG (direct-shift gearbox) "gearbox problems" that causes loss of power. This is probably one of the biggest recalls in VW's history. Though in comparison  to Toyota's recall of 10 million cars between 2009 and 2010, amid accident fears over sticky accelerator pedals and floor mats, Volkswagen’s recall is but minuscule.  Some believe that the Volkswagen  recall is  bogus. But it's really good to see that Volkswagen is "stepping up to the plate". 

VOLKSWAGEN RECALL

The recall reports that the dreaded 7-dry DSG malfunctions are the result of faulty "temperature sensors" (NTC - thermister) caused by the use of synthetic oil in 7-speed dual-clutch gearboxes.  As such synthetic oil will be replaced with traditional mineral oil. Somehow the Audi 2L TFSI models, the Golf GTI's with the 6-wet DSG and the reliable Tiptronic A/T  are not affected. But that doesn't mean that the wet DSG's are not totally immune to mechatronic failure in the future.  Jetta SportsWagen, GTI and Eos vehicles built between September 2008 and August 2009 and a limited number of 2010 Jetta seem to be most affected. It was probably a bad batch of DSG's.

One is the "false neutral syndrome" where the flashing PRNDS occurs with the car losing all motive power without warning, (traced to a faulty DSG heat/temperature sensor) and the other is where the DSG (direct-shift gearbox; German:- Direkt-Schalt-Getriebe) suffers severe delays at shift points, causing erratic shifting, jerking, long stall pauses, clutch slipping, surging in forward and reverse, etc. 

The "gearbox problem" previously mentioned is non other than the "Flash of Death" aka "DSG Flash of Death" aka "false neutral syndrome", resulting in  a flashing PRNDS. When this happens,  the car loses all motive power without warning, as its transmission goes into limp mode by selecting  3rd gear. But this isn't always the case because subject to the actual "gearbox problem", because the transmission may not disengage. So when the engine is switched off, it may not start thereafter. A second transmission problem revolves around causing erratic shifting, jerking, severe delays at shift points, clutch slipping, surging in both forward and reverse. This  often happens when accelerating, overtaking  or cruising and your VW or Audi is also prone to slip gears and judder at low speeds, even though clutch adaptation may have been done. These faults have been associated with the Mechatronic Unit, bent clutch forks and warped clutch packs. If you have vag-com, you will see that your car threw one or more of the following DTC's, or a variation of them.

17090 - Transmission Range Sensor (F125): Implausible Signal
P0706 - 000 - -

17106 - Transmission Output Speed Sensor (G195): No Signal
P0722 - 000 - - - Intermittent

17114 - Gear Ratio Monitoring: Incorrect Gear Ratio 
P0730 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent

17114 - Incorrect Gear Ratio
P0730 - 000 - - - Intermittent

18113 - Gear Ratio Monitoring: Adaptation Limit Reached
P1705 - 09-10 - Adaptation Limit Surpassed - Intermittent

18149 - Clutch Pressure Adaptation: Limit Reached 
P1741 - 001 - Upper Limit Exceeded - Intermittent

18149 - Clutch Pressure Adaptation: Limit Reached 
P1741 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent

18149 - Clutch Pressure Adaptation: Limit Reached
P1741 - 002 - Lower Limit Exceeded - Intermittent

18151 - Clutch Slip Monitoring: Signal too Large 
P1743 - 35-00 - -

18172 - Transmission Temperature Monitoring
P1764 - 000 - - - Intermittent

18201 - Transmission Output Speed Sensor 2 (G196): No Signal
P1793 - 000 - -

18226 - Pressure Control Valve 2 (N216): Electrical Malfunction
P1818 - 007 - Short to Ground - Intermittent

18226 - Pressure Control Valve 2 (N216): Electrical Malfunction
P1818 - 006 - Short to Plus - Intermittent

28775 - No communication with Gear Selector Module 
U0103-000--MIL ON

28775 - No Communication with Gear Selector Module
U0103 - 004 - No Signal/Communication

MECHATRONIC UNIT

Long story short, your VW or Audi is more likely than not going to need a mechatronic replacement when you experience the above. However, that doesn't mean every transmission problem can be solved by replacing the mechartonic unit.  I know of someone who experienced the "VW DSG Flash of Death". So, he took his Audi to the VW service agents who diagnosed a faulty Mechtronic unit and a faulty wiring harness. Charged him $3500 for parts and labour and three weeks later, "DSG Flash of Death" struck again. The peculiar thing about the "DSG Flash of Death" is that it affects  brand new vehicles. Cars with as little as 3K kilometers on the clock and virtually none of them exceeding 50K on the clock before the DSG (Dreaded Spiteful Genie / direct-shift gearbox) takes revenge. But a faulty mechatronic unit isn't the only problem Volkswagen is facing. Some 30,000 Volkswagen Tiguans are being recalled in the UK alone because of an intermittent fuse / blown fuse problem that causes headlights to cut out. 

The amount of transmission complaints that NHTSA received prompted their lawyers to get Volkswagen to initiate the recall. 
Be that as it may, VW and Audi branded cars sport really great technology, engineering and performance as well as beautiful aesthetics, but what good is all that if the darned car leaves you stranded every so often, costs a bundle to repair and maintain, besides the darn thing can kills you, when limp mode kicks in on the freeway, with fast flowing traffic on your tail.

OTHER VEHICLE RECALLS

Recalls are common in the motor industry but getting the incumbent to take responsible can be a painful as pulling teeth. Recalls are also as common as sand and by the looks of things,  no auto manufacturer is except.  For example, Ford Kuga SUV fire recall goes all the way back to 2013 in South Africa. Now, they are  in the process recalling thousands of its Kuga (fireball) models following client reports that the SUVs self-combusts.  

Honda is recalling an  additional 775 000 vehicles for defective front passenger airbag inflators that was manufactured by the Japanese supplier Takata.

Toyota is globally recalling all the Mirai fuel-cell vehicles  due to a software bug that can shut off its hydrogen-powered system without warning. Toyota is  also recalling more than 300 000 hybrid Prius vehicles globally due to a defect in their parking brakes. 

Volkswagen will recall an additional 50 000 vehicles in China due to brake problems when the cruise control is activated. 

BMW is recalling some 150 000 cars and SUVs in the US and Canada due to wiring problem to the fuel pumps inside the gas that can cause its engines to suddenly stall.

Mazda is recalling almost 175 000 cars in the US due to the seats can suddenly change angles, making driving difficult.


And the list goes on.