2014 Jeep Cherokee Remotely Hacked, Ignition Switched Off

In a recent report by Wired magazine computer security professionals successfully hacked a 2014 Jeep Cherokee while Wired senior writer Andy Greenberg was driving. The hacking occurred via wireless Internet connection and was all caught on tape. This hacking event highlights the concern that some consumers have that their new technologically advanced vehicle is vulnerable to hackers.

During the hack, the driver, Andy Greenberg was on the highway and at the mercy of the hackers. Under the control of the two men using a laptop miles away, Greenberg had the wipers turn on, the music blasting with him unable to turn it down and even had the vehicle turned off remotely. Finally, once in a safer place the hackers drove the Jeep Cherokee into a ditch. Greenberg was in phone communication with the two men during the planned vehicle hack.

While many other vehicles could potentially be vulnerable to hackers, the two men who hacked the Jeep Cherokee said that any late 2013, 2014 for 2015 FCA vehicle with the UConnect infotainment system. The two would-be hackers of the Jeep Cherokee are Chis Valasek, director of security firm IOActive and Charlie Miller, an employee of Twitter. The men are convinced they had to take the step of hacking the Jeep to forward the cause of protecting vehicles from cyber hackers.

FCA doesn’t agree. In a statement, FCA spoke out against the published vulnerability of some of their newer vehicles. In a statement FCA explained, “Under no circumstances does FCA condone or believe it’s appropriate to disclose ‘how-to information’ that would potentially encourage, or help enable hackers to gain unauthorized and unlawful access to vehicle systems.” FCA also announced a software patch as a way to overcome the type of security threat Valasek and Miller exploited. However, in order to gain access to the patch update, FCA owners have to either install it manually using a USB drive or have an FCA mechanic do so.

What’s your take on vehicle cyber security? Is it a threat that consumers who come into your store will ask you about and is it an area that you and your staff are knowledgeable in and ready to educate your customers about?