Hackers crashed the car several kilometers – Aftonbladet

Hackers took control and crashed a car for kilometers around.

Hundreds of thousands of cars are at risk.

– This could go really bad. It might not happen in real life, but it is terrible that it can be done, says computer security expert Anders Nilsson.

A bunch of hackers have proven that it is possible to take control of a car as much as 15 kilometers. From the sofa, they could through their mobile phone or computer, turn off the brakes as the car drove straight into the ditch.

– I do not think this is the last time we see this happening.

“more vulnerable”

There was security researchers Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek who showed what they can do on public roads in Missouri, United States.

The car that was chopped was a Jeep Cherokee , manufactured by Fiat Chrysler. Now, warn security experts that there is a risk that more than more than 470 000 cars by the manufacturers can be hacked.

But according to computer security expert Anders Nilsson can even more be at risk.

– You know not how many other car models that use the same software. My guess is that there are more people who are vulnerable, but that one just does not know it yet, he said.

Hands with IP address

The car used the software Uconnect built into several hundreds of thousands of cars by the manufacturer since 2013. The software controls the entertainment system, which among other things manages navigation, making phone calls and allows the owner to remotely start the car.

The only thing they need to get in the car’s ip address.

– If your car is going to open up, lock up, or to find via mobile phone, the connection to the Internet. It also means that someone else can take over, and in the worst case also do other things, he says.

made similar attacks

After the hackers contacted Fiat Chrysler, they now have updated their system. But it requires the user to download the update on a USB and install it yourself.

“This update may not sound very important, but trust me, if you can, you should really install it,” writes Charlie Miller on Twitter.

Fiat Chrysler responds in a public statement that they “appreciate the contributions of cyber proponents to increase the industry’s understanding of potential vulnerabilities.” However, they recommend that “in the pursuit of improved public safety not in fact endanger public security”.

– I also think it would have been better to do it here on perhaps a parking lot instead of a public Highway, says Anders Nilsson.

Security researchers have also carried out similar attacks against the Toyota Prius and Ford Escape.