System and method for preventing unauthorized modification to engine control software or an engine control system

An engine control system comprising:

• a power unit that includes an engine;
• and
• a controller configured to activate the engine via an engine activation signal and control the engine using an engine control software, the controller including a relay connected to the power unit,
• wherein the controller is configured to detect an unauthorized modification event,
• wherein the relay is configured to prevent the engine activation signal from passing to the power unit when the controller detects an unauthorized modification event,
• wherein the power unit includes a stop solenoid, the relay is connected to the stop solenoid, and the relay is configured to send the engine activation signal to the stop solenoid when the controller does not detect an unauthorized modification event.
• wherein the controller includes a circuit board connected to the relay, the circuit board being configured to send an engine implementation signal to the relay when the controller does not detect an unauthorized modification event, and
• wherein the controller includes a feedback connection configured to send the engine activation signal from the relay to the circuit board when the relay passes the engine activation signal to the power unit.