Allentown Area Toyota Dealer Warns Against Vehicle Hacking

Dec 27, 2014

In the age of the computer, there are more threats than ever before. If you’ve ever had to change your password or have someone hard reset your phone, you know how easy it can be. Now, with our smartphones acting like virtual wallets the temptations for hackers is bigger than ever. The thing is that as more and more tech makes its way into your car, it, too, becomes a target. Your Allentown Area Toyota dealer explains vehicle hacking.

How It Works

Vehicle hacking works a lot like any other kind of hacking in that hackers look for an easy entry point. This is what folks who know call “attack surface.” Things we’ve come to take for granted like Bluetooth and other wireless connections all run through a central computer. The more wireless features a car has the more attack surface it has since each one can be a way in.

Why It Matters

Say a hacker can gain access to your car through your Bluetooth or even the wireless tire pressure gauge. If that system is directly connected to other systems, what’s called network architecture, a hacker can then gain control of power steering or electronic braking. Because we tend to feel safe in our cars, hackers can also use this entry point to gain access to wireless devices right in our pockets.

What Can Be Done

Well, car makers are taking new steps to limit access and redesigning network architecture and what are known as “cyberphysical features” like braking, steering, and acceleration. For now, cars still aren’t popular targets, but it’s always better to know than to not.