Car owners used to be concerned about carjacking – now it’s more likely to be car hacking. The concerns follow the recent hacking in the USA of a Jeep Cherokee, in which hackers took control of the vehicle’s brakes via its Internet-connected entertainment system, and popped the Cherokee into a ditch.
The report sent Jeep manufacturer Fiat Chrysler into a spin and the company has now issued a safety recall affecting no fewer than 1.4 million vehicles in the US for a software update.
A video of security researchers demonstrating how hackers could remotely control the Cherokee went viral.
In a statement, Fiat Chrysler said it was unaware of any injuries related to software exploitation. It said the recall was issued to help customers with the “ongoing software distribution that insulates connected vehicles from remote manipulation”.
The issue affected US vehicles that have been fitted with the Fiat Chrysler’s uConnect system, which include the Cherokee, some pick-ups and several Chrysler and Dodge models, including the Viper.
Two US senators have introduced a bill to Congress that would create a security rating system for cars, so consumers would know which models are presumed to be un-hackable.
It’s not known if the software update will be issued to Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge owners in Australia.
More than 30,000 Fiat Chrysler models were sold in Australia to the end of 2014. They include the Cherokee, the Chrysler 300, Dodge Viper and the RAM pick-up.
The hackings could mean a rough ride for Jeep’s aggressive expansion plans in Australia where it plans to introduce several new models by 2018, including the RAM.
