If you've recently read horror stories about your car being held for ransom by car hijackers, you're not alone. These stories are 100% true. Thanks to modern connectivity devices like USB ports and on-board diagnostics systems in vehicles, hackers can gain access to your car's systems just like they can your phone or home computer networks. With so many microcomputers and connectivity devices operating in vehicles these days, it's no wonder that hackers have gone out of their way to exploit these sensitive systems.
What are the Threats Facing the Modern Car Owner?
Unlike your phone, though, someone taking control of your car while you're driving can have much more deadly consequences. Imagine someone bringing your car to a complete halt while you're going 70 MPH on a busy highway. That's the kind of real life situation that some people could face at some point in their modern car ownership. For your own safety, and for the safety of your family, please take the modern car hacking threat seriously. It's a real thing and countless tech publications have demonstrated just what hackers can do as well as the real life situations that have already occurred for some car owners.
How To Keep Your Car Safe From Hackers
We've established that hackers are a real threat, but how do you combat them? The great news is that even if you're not tech-savvy, you can combat these hackers by following just a few of these tips.
- Disable services: If you don't use some of your car's services, you can safely disable them (consult your manual or call us to be sure how to do this). For example, if you have a great music app that you never plan to use, just disable it. This clears the airwaves some.
- Secure WiFi: WiFi is a potentially dangerous luxury in your vehicle. Make sure that WiFi hotspots are secure, and if they're not, consider waiting for a secure hotspot. Many vehicles give you the option of getting a secure WiFi hotspot, so be sure to ask our dealership about this if you plan to use WiFi in your vehicle.
- Protect your on-board diagnostic system: Your OBD ports are vital. They give mechanics access to legions of potentially sensitive information. Only trust a certified mechanic to access these ports and avoid "dongles" that want to plug into this port!
- Avoid aftermarket devices that want to plug and play: There are all kinds of neat little devices out there that want access to your car's ports. And it's tempting to use them. Before you do, though, make sure that they've passed security measures and offer you protection against hacking! So many of these devices are unsecured.
- As you can see, you're not helpless against hackers. There are plenty of ways that you can secure your car's sensitive systems as well as your personal information while you're driving. And as you can also see, it's not just personal information you need to protect. It's also safety things like driver-assisted vehicle systems operated via computer.
Call Or Visit For More Information
We don't just sell vehicles here at our dealership. We also keep up to date with the latest information about security against hackers. If you'd like to talk to us about your specific model's hacking vulnerabilities, please call us today or simply stop by our dealership and ask us questions. We'll be happy to help you make your car safer against hackers.
