Your Car Is Susceptible to Hackers in Several Ways
Advanced technology is one of the many reasons modern vehicles are so great. It’s easier to listen to music, get directions, and keep passengers entertained. However, this all comes with a few drawbacks. One significant downside is that car hackers can cause quite a bit of stress with some of the best new cars. Some hacks can even cause car wrecks and other unfortunate situations.
Car hackers can attack various systems related to the vehicle
There are many parts of your car that hackers can attack. Naturally, this includes various systems you may use often. For example, they can go after your Tire Pressure Monitoring System with the right equipment. Once hacked, the scammers can cause all sorts of warning notifications to sound. They can also do something a bit more sinister. Car hackers can track your car if they hack the TPMS.
The air conditioning system is also susceptible to car hackers. Hacking the AC may sound odd, but readers must remember that modern cars are basically computers with tires. Once they compromise the AC, hackers can play around with your temperature settings and cause a really annoying situation. Of course, hackers can also go after your infotainment system, which could give them sensitive information such as your location. They can also control various functions of the car by hacking the infotainment system.
Your key fob system is also susceptible to cyberattacks. Car hackers can do all sorts of sinister things, such as clone the fob or extend the range. An experienced hacker could quickly help with your vehicle being stolen in this way.
Hackers can impact your driving in several ways
One of the scariest things car hackers can do is impact your acceleration. Vehicles with systems that lock the doors when you accelerate or reach a certain speed are the main targets of this type of hack. Of course, this is concerning as it could easily cause car wrecks or other unfortunate and unexpected situations.
Car hackers can also control your braking. This is because microprocessors in the onboard computer actually control when you stop based on you pressing the pedal with your foot. However, if hacked, people from all over the world could dictate when you’re able to stop. As with forced acceleration, this is a massive safety concern that could cause people to have car wrecks.
Car hackers can be scary, but there are ways to make their sinister pastime more challenging. Some people suggest using a Faraday pouch for your key fob when you’re not using it. According to CarWow, these bags block electromagnetic fields, which means your key fob won’t work until you take it out of the bag.
You should also investigate any aftermarket or third-party devices you add to your car. Adding unknown devices can leave you open to being hacked. It’s also recommended that you use strong passwords for your Wi-Fi and enable encryption whenever you can.