WHO’S IN CONTROL: YOU OR YOUR VEHICLE?
It’s been a tough week for Chrysler, one of the leading vehicle manufacturers in the country. After being slammed with a record-setting $105 million fine for mishandling vehicle recalls that have been deemed unsafe (including 500,000 Dodge Ram trucks), Chrysler has been hit yet again. Blindsided, you might say. Except this time it’s not directly from safety officials. It’s from the inside… of your own vehicle.
Recent digital hacking trends have indicated that cyber attacks are no longer confined to the average desktop computer or server, and that your smartphone being compromised from an unsecured WiFi connection at your local Starbucks may be the least of your concerns. Cyber attacks are now being targeted at specific vehicles — yes, vehicles as in cars, scary, right? — both on and off the road, which once infiltrated, would allow a hacker full dominance and command over the very vehicle that you may be driving.
Driving to work in the morning may never be the same again … Especially if your vehicle seemingly becomes spontaneously self-aware, taking your zero mph to 60 in what feels like a new personal best. Making your daily McDonald’s coffee-stop-ritual that much more exciting. Sound like fun? No? Didn’t think so…
Fortunately for consumers (and unfortunately for Chrysler) a flaw in specific new Chrysler models (full list below) has been detected that would allow hackers to remotely access and hijack the vehicle, giving them control of everything from the vehicle’s gas and brake to shutting the engine completely off. Chrysler initially offered up a tepid software upgrade to customers, who would need to take no action for the upgrade to take effect, but to no avail, Chrysler has had come forth with a full-fledged recall in the form of a USB drive that customers can install to patch the issues. Customers can also choose to take their vehicle into a Chrysler dealership for the software upgrade.
Check out the full list of affected Chrysler models here:
- 2015 Dodge Challenger sport coupes
- 2015 Chrysler 200, Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger sedans
- 2013, 2014, 2015 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks
- 2013, 2014, 2015 Ram 3500, 4500, 5500 Chassis Cabs
- 2013, 2014, 2015 Dodge Viper specialty vehicles
- 2014, 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Cherokee SUVs
- 2014, 2015 Dodge Durango SUVs
It’s important to stay up to date on all of the latest software updates and upgrades that Chrysler and all other car manufacturers issue, as this type of malicious activity is likely not going to remain limited solely to Chrysler vehicles. As the burgeoning demand for newer, better, quicker technology surges forward, new vulnerabilities will continually be sought out and exposed. It’s what we do to thereafter, in regards to future prevention, that matters.
The digital age is here, folks … Whether we like the consequences or not is yet to be determined.
