Researchers Demonstrate Hack into Tesla Car Model Remotely

Tesla Motors manufacturers most ardently and proactively maintain cyber security for its vehicles that is renowned globally. It offers many features, among which one bug bounty module is notable. However, the software programs inside its motors are sometimes inflicted with security flaws.

Tencent a Chinese technology firm discovered several flaws in Tesla cars, which if exploited together, let the firm's researchers remotely gain hold of one Tesla car Model S while regulate its door locks, central display, sunroof as well as the brakes. While exploiting the flaws, the researchers were also able in gaining admission into the CAN (controller area network) bus of the car that enables Tesla car's specialized computers exchange messages between each other.

However, there are some essential prerequisites for the hack. The vehicle's in-built browser must be running and there must be certain malicious WiFi connection for the car. The researchers' group notified Tesla about the security flaws it discovered, and the motor company released one security patch and rectified the problems. Gizmodo.com posted this dated September 20, 2016.

While carrying out the hack, the research team attacked the car's CAN bus, which is a network of PCs that any modern vehicle contains to regulate everything such as brakes, indicators and others. The vulnerability was demonstrated via a video even as the hack was shown targeting Model 75D and Model S P85 of Tesla, albeit other models could also be similarly hacked.

Within one blog post the researcher hackers stated that they lauded Tesla's proactive efforts and approach towards issuing the fix for the flaws efficaciously.

Tesla getting experimentally hacked occurred in the past too when researchers belonging to University of South Carolina managed in duping the autopilot mechanism of Tesla Model S such that it seemed to perceive objects while they didn't exist alternatively, missed noticing an object actually on the car's path.

Thus as interconnection among cars grows, there will also increase methods by which hackers will be able to hack from the remote. Hence, it is vital that the PCs operating crucial safety measures are set apart from other computers and properly safeguarded.

» SPAMfighter News - 9/26/2016