The Indian government has ordered the App Store and Play Store to take down two smartphone apps that were reportedly connected to using Bluetooth to halt e-rickshaws from moving.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued the directive in response to concerns that some users could use the applications to connect to neighboring battery systems and turn off their power. The authorities took precautions even though there is no proof that the applications could remotely stop e-rickshaws while they were moving.
Concerns over public safety and the exploitation of Bluetooth-enabled technology have apparently led to the removal of both BAT-BMS and Epoch Li-ion apps from the app stores as a result of the instruction.
MeitY Secretary S Krishnan stated at the CII Cybersecurity Summit on July 3 that two applications, BAT-BMS and Epoch Li-ion, which were allegedly utilized to remotely turn off the e-rickshaw battery, have now been removed.
The authorities took action after multiple recordings of people using Bluetooth to connect to neighboring e-rickshaw batteries and interrupting the power supply surfaced on social media. Drivers and passengers began to worry about the safety of such battery systems as soon as the videos went viral.
Shenzhen Grenergy Technology is the developer of the Chinese software BAT-BMS. Because it enables users to monitor battery details including voltage, current, temperature, charging cycles, and battery health, it was developed as a companion app for Bluetooth-enabled lithium-ion batteries. It's also crucial to remember that a device can only connect to one battery at a time.
Lossigy is a feature that lets users switch the battery’s discharge function on or off via the app. It was included as a safety precaution, though, and it wasn't thought that any infamous individuals would abuse it when it was being developed.
According to experts, certain battery management systems’ inadequate security settings are the issue rather than the monitoring themselves.
Many inexpensive electric cars have battery systems that either don't have password protection or still utilize the manufacturer default credentials. If appropriate security measures are not in place, anyone within Bluetooth range may be able to connect.