The linked article [1] is actually far more worrying than Slate's concerns about bored 12-year-olds. If a $60 setup can do a rather precise spoof of lidar readings, we are open to scenarios such as:

- Causing the car to collide with other vehicles. E.g. getting into a fender bender to avoid the illusion of an impending frontal collision.

- Causing the car to stop where it shouldn't. E.g. imagine armed robbers or kidnappers waiting on a deserted stretch of the road with a lidar spoofing device.

- Causing the car to run people over. E.g. spoofing away a pedestrian on a crosswalk.

What's even worse is that all of these attacks would be difficult if not impossible to detect or track down. With zero risk you can acquire valid insurance claims, put victims in positions where they're easily robbed or kidnapped, or cause your enemies to be run over.

[1] http://spectrum.ieee.org/cars-that-think/transportation/self...