Ride the Lightning

FBI and DOT Release Warning of Car Hacking Dangers

March 22, 2016

On March 17^th, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Transportation (DoT) released a public service announcement (PSA) to warn manufacturers and consumers about some of the dangers of connected cars. “Vulnerabilities may exist within a vehicle’s wireless communication functions, within a mobile device – such as a cellular phone or tablet connected to the vehicle via USB, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi – or within a third-party device connected through a vehicle diagnostic port,” the PSA said. Officials warned that these new connections could provide cybercriminals with more attack portals and described various ways attackers could remotely access vehicle controls and systems.

The PSA recommended that consumers ensure their vehicle’s software is up to date, be careful when making any modifications to vehicle software, maintain awareness, and exercise discretion when connecting third-party devices to vehicles. Officials also provided guidelines for what to do if a consumer suspects their vehicle has been hacked.

Some of the risks mentioned by the PSA involved exploits which disabled the engine or the brakes. Yes, either of those could present a problem. Yikes.

Apparently, car manufacturers “have trouble” making cybersecurity a priority and worry about the costs. Doesn’t that make you feel safe getting into your connected car?

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