Cybersecurity researchers and Wired magazine last week showed that hackers could access the on-board computer of a Jeep Cherokee. That spurred a recall from Fiat Chrysler of 1.4 million vehicles to correct the vulnerabilities with a software update.
So should car owners be worried? According to three experts, not so much.
In fact, one of the researchers behind the hack told CNBC last week that he’s more concerned about a different combination of wireless technology and automobiles.
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“I’m more afraid of someone texting and driving and running into me than someone hacking my car-if that’ll tell you anything,” said Chris Valasek, director of vehicle security research at IOActive, during an interview with ” Power Lunch ” last week.
Miller Newton, the CEO of software firm PKWARE, told CNBC that vulnerabilities in wearbles and networked medical devices should worry consumers more so than vehicles.
“I think about internal devices like pacemakers or external devices like insulin pumps,” he said last week on ” Squawk Alley .” “All of those devices are networked devices that stream critical and life-saving information to the cloud. And that information is being streamed without being protected, and that’s really scary.”
Earl J. Hesterberg, the CEO of Group 1 Automotive, said he felt confident that automakers have been monitoring on-board software security for years.
“I’m sure this is being looked at today by every auto manufacturer and they’re double-checking and triple-checking,” Hesterberg said Thursday on “Power Lunch.” “But I wouldn’t freak out about this.”
Article Source: www.finance.yahoo.com.au