A security system used in car booking systems to prevent the unauthorized access to sensitive data will soon have enhanced features, a security official said.
Jammer systems are used by car booking companies to prevent unauthorized access.
The security system, which is used by over 40% of all car booking services, is being implemented by car-hailing services Uber and Lyft, and has received security upgrades, a senior official said on condition of anonymity.
The security system was added to the security of cars, and car booking platforms are getting additional measures, including security cameras, he said.
The new features include enhanced intrusion detection and alerting capabilities, according to a senior officer.
Security experts said the added security measures could make it harder for car booking users to access sensitive data.
A security system called ‘Jammer’ is being installed in the car booking business by Uber, Lyft and other car-sharing services to prevent people from accessing sensitive information, a top security official told The Hindu on condition he not be named.
Security officials said the system, installed by Uber in India and deployed in over 40 cities, will soon be made more sophisticated.
“Uber and Lyft are also using a technology called ‘jammer’ to prevent anyone from accessing the private information of its customers,” a senior security official, who did not wish to be named, told The Indian Express.
“They are deploying jammer in cars in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Mumbai and other cities.
The technology is not only for the benefit of the car rental companies, but also for the government.
Jammer is a smart-phones-enabled security system that intercepts phone calls and text messages.
It works on a mobile phone’s GPS.
Jamming can also be used for surveillance, to locate vehicles in an area, and even intercept people from the mobile phone.”
The security official added that the government is also considering a proposal to introduce a ‘jammers’ device, which will be deployed in cars.
The government’s push for security features comes at a time when the government has been pushing for more safety in the public sector and private companies have been lobbying the government for such features.
In October last year, Uber and other ride-sharing companies like Ola, Grab, Ola Deccan Chronicle and others had proposed the introduction of smart-phone-based security measures.
The measures include ‘jamming’, which allows the system to block incoming calls, text messages, and GPS location information.
The proposal was tabled in Parliament in the presence of then Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari.
