In this technological age, a motorist needs to act to prevent car hacking.
Recently, the FBI and the US National High Traffic Safety Administration put out a public safety announcement about the dangers of cars getting hacked. The Bureau noted that risks come with the increasing number of computers in vehicles that allow the driver to control car functions, such as steering, braking, accelerating, and more. While we work to safeguard our computer devices and handheld mobiles from cyber crime, many of us forget to protect our vehicles. In this digital age, we need to prevent car hacking.
To mitigate cyber security risks for your vehicle, the FBI offered a handy list of what to do:
Ensure your vehicle software is up to date.
Be cautious about the potential for criminals to exploit online update delivery, though. Many hackers have wised up and are now sending out engineered messages rigged to look like updates from automakers, actually leading to malware downloads.
Take care when making any modifications to vehicle software.
Any unauthorized modifications could introduce new vulnerabilities or alter automatic software update installation.
Be cautious about connecting to third-party devices to your vehicle.
Before you plug a third-party device into your car, you should always know the risks. Some dongles could lead to a privacy wreck and an expensive repair down the line. Always ensure that the device is safe and clear of cyber viruses before plugging it in.
Limit those who have physical access to the vehicle.
You wouldn’t leave your laptop or phone lying around unlocked… Right? Similarly, keeping an eye on your vehicle is a sure way to keep it safe. Limit the people who have access to your car and never leave it unlocked, even if you’re just popping into a store.