LONDON - A British university is delaying the release of an
academic paper on how the antitheft systems of millions of
Volkswagen vehicles are at risk of being hacked after the German
carmaker took legal action against it.  In a statement, the
University of Birmingham said it would defer publication of the
paper - which explains how researchers were able to subvert
Volkswagen's security system - after an interim injunction
issued by England's High Court. It said it was "disappointed
with the judgment which did not uphold the defense of academic
freedom and public interest, but respects the decision."   The
paper - which a group of academics had planned to publish next
month - revealed three ways to bypass a brand of computer chip
used by several auto manufacturers to fight vehicle theft.
Often referred to as immobilizers, such chips use a secret
algorithm to ensure that a car can only be started with the
right key, and they've been mandatory in all new vehicles sold
in Britain over the past 15 years.  Crucia