Hackers may target cars – risk is there says report

As cars become more technologically advanced, the chances of them being hacked also increases.

California-based Consumer Watchdog is suggesting a mass cyberattack against vehicles and is urging automakers to install “kill switches” to allow vehicles to be disconnected from the Internet.

A 49-page report issued by Consumer Watchdog focuses on the potential of the situation, as the number of vehicles on the roads increases.

“A hacker with only modest resources could launch a massive attack against our automotive infrastructure, potentially causing thousands of fatalities and disrupting our most critical form of transportation,” the report reads.

“Experts agree that connecting safety-critical components to the internet through a complex information and entertainment device is a security flaw. This design allows hackers to control a vehicle’s operations and take it over from across the internet.”

A Jeep Cherokee was hacked in 2015 as a demonstration. It swerved off the road.

The report says in the US, by 22 two thirds of new cars will have online connections to the cars’ safety-critical system, putting them at risk.

The ability to update software and potentially fixing bugs could open up new liabilities, says the report.

Automakers like Tesla, Daimler, Ford, General Motors and BMW have disclosed the cyber risks to their investors, Stuff reports.