Imagine you are driving on the motorway and suddenly the ventilation is set to maximum strength, the music is roaring at you at maximum volume, the wipers start and the wiper-washer system runs amok. And suddenly the vehicle slows down. Science fiction from a Hollywood movie? No - a very current safety risk with numerous vehicles from the Fiat-Chrysler group!
UConnect - Uhacked!
It is a nightmare for the driver - because in addition to the rather minor problems with a remote-controlled function of radio or climate - the two hackers from the USA also managed to get one Jeep Cherokee (our driving report) remote control via laptop. Wired senior editor Andy Greenberg was able to convince himself of this on a closed-off site. The Jeep Cherokee with the current UConnect multimedia system was beyond its control and was driven into the ditch by the two hackers.
Multimedia, wireless, remote, seamless interfaces and the connection of the “hardware” of the car with the “software” of the web – a wonderful new world, also for us at autohub.de. We are convinced of the opportunities and possibilities that the Internet and the networking of cars and the web reveal to us. However, the current example from the USA shows how far away automobile manufacturers are from the necessary safety requirements.
The fact that hackers control one's own vehicle "foreign" has always been a killing argument against modern multimedia systems in the car. This is not about a fundamental discussion, but about a failure of the developers in the FCA Group.
The UConnect system is used throughout the FIAT Chrysler Group and the Jeep Cherokee shown is just an example of the possibility of a “remote attack”.
The same problems in Germany?
According to information from “Vogel-VerlagThe vehicles in Germany are not affected by this “security gap”. In addition, the FCA Group was informed of the hack at an early stage and responded to the security gap with an update. Now owners of a Cherokee in the USA have been asked to have the update installed in a JEEP workshop.
Afraid of having your own car “hacked”?
How are you doing? Do you have a bad feeling about the new technology? Write us one e-mail or comment on this article. Give us your opinion! What problems do you expect in the future between the connection between “web” and “car”?
UPDATE:
Chrysler is now recalling 1.4 million cars after this vulnerability!
Sources: Thanks to WIRED for the article! | Thanks to Vogel-Verlag for the consultation with JEEP Germany and the statement from JEEP Germany.
