Drivers are getting more worried about digital carjacking

By: Unknown on 3:15 PM

Consumers are becoming more and more aware that hacking isn’t just a gadget nuisance any more. Computer security problems, like viruses, increasingly come with real-world consequences, like the potential to screw with an airplane’s flight system or, more recently, a car. Wired’s Andy Greenberg last month revealed to the world the latest hacking horror: Security researchers were able to “kill” a Jeep while he was in it.
“Though I hadn’t touched the dashboard, the vents in the Jeep Cherokee started blasting cold air at the maximum setting, chilling the sweat on my back through the in-seat climate control system,” Greenberg wrote. “Next the radio switched to the local hip hop station and began blaring Skee-lo at full volume. I spun the control knob left and hit the power button, to no avail. Then the windshield wipers turned on, and wiper fluid blurred the glass.”
Later, the hackers demonstrated they could stop and steer the car remotely using a software vulnerability. Yikes.
The digital carjacking incident was a huge embarrassment for Jeep maker Fiat Chrysler, which recalled 1.4 million cars to fix the software.
But pity poor Chrysler, which just happened to be the first carmaker to end up with egg on its face. Increasingly, cars are run by computers, and that means hacks like this are inevitable.
Consumers seem to implicitly understand this. Kelley Blue Book jumped at the news to churn out a survey of users showing that, yes, they all know about the Jeep incident, and yes, many — 4 out of 5 — think car hacking will be a problem within the next three years.
Much to my surprise, many even said they’d pay for hacking protection services, with $8 a month being the preferred cost. I smell a marketing opportunity for antivirus makers! I also smell a rat. Why should consumers have to pay extra to keep computer criminals out of their cars? (And while I’m at it, could I make a final, fruitless plea to save at least some dashboard gauges and knobs? I hate digital displays.)
On to the results:

“Technology offers a wide range of enhanced convenience for today’s new vehicle buyers, but it also offers the increasing potential for unauthorized access and control,” said Karl Brauer, senior analyst for Kelley Blue Book. “Cybersecurity is still a relatively new area of specialization for automakers, but it’s one they need to take seriously to ensure they are ahead of the curve. If automotive engineers find themselves playing catch-up in this field, it could have disastrous results for both consumers and the industry.”