Relief news has emerged for e-rickshaw drivers in the country. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, has ordered the removal of three mobile apps BAT-BMS, Lossigy and Epoch Li-ion from the internet and app stores. With the help of these apps, e-rickshaws were being stopped from moving on the road. Recently, such videos went viral on social media in which it was shown that some people were switching off the moving e-rickshaw by sitting away from the mobile app. Investigation revealed that by misuse of these apps, e-rickshaws were being stopped without touching them. Taking immediate action, the government has ordered to remove these apps from Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Let us understand how e-rickshaw drivers can keep themselves safe from such apps and whether these apps will continue to work on downloaded devices even after being banned.
How did these apps work?
These three apps were actually created to monitor the battery. Battery companies make these so that the user can see the voltage, temperature and condition of his battery. But there was a feature in these apps by which the battery could be turned on and off. This feature became the cause of danger. Some people would download these apps and come within 15 meters of an e-rickshaw running on the road and connect to it via Bluetooth. After this they would switch off the power supply of the battery, due to which the e-rickshaw would stop suddenly. In many cases, it happened that Rs 200 to Rs 300 were collected from the driver in the name of first stopping the vehicle and then repairing it.
How can e-rickshaw drivers keep themselves safe?
The government has ordered to immediately remove BAT-BMS, Lossigy and Epoch-i-ion apps from Google Play Store and Apple App Store. But if this app is already downloaded in someone’s phone then how can e-rickshaw drivers keep themselves safe. Most of the cheap e-rickshaws in India are equipped with low cost battery systems. The security in these is very weak and Bluetooth remains open without password. This is why this problem occurred. To avoid this, drivers can go to their battery app and set a password or PIN. If this facility is not available then a physical bypass switch can be installed by getting the battery wiring changed by a good mechanic. Due to this, control of the app is lost. Another way is to turn off or remove the Bluetooth antenna inside the battery so that no one can connect from outside. The best long-term solution is to use a secure and encrypted battery system.
How to set a password or PIN?
- Download the official app of Battery on your phone.
- Open the official Battery app.
- Go to Settings.
- Select the Bluetooth Password/PIN option.
- Set a new strong password or PIN.
- Save changes.
What if you have already downloaded the app?
The government has removed these apps from Google Play Store and Apple App Store, so now no new user can download them. But for those who have already downloaded it on their phones, this app will not automatically be deleted from their phones. This means that pre-existing apps can still be misused. The government is now working on how to completely shut down or deactivate these apps through technical means. Until this system is implemented, the responsibility for safety lies with the driver and vehicle owners.
Is your electric car and scooter also in danger?
There is no need for common people to panic about this matter. Electric vehicles of big brands like Ather, Ola, TVS, Bajaj, Tata, MG and Mahindra are completely safe. These vehicles have a strong and encrypted battery system which is connected to the main computer of the vehicle. These cannot be controlled through any normal mobile app or Bluetooth connection. This problem is seen only in cheap, local and unbranded e-rickshaws or assembled vehicles where weak battery systems are installed.
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