Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (NASDAQ:FCAU) has recalled 1.4 million vehicles on Friday in the United States, after hackers exposed their ability to take control of connected cars. According to the automaker, these vehicles are from model year 2013 onwards, and are equipped with 8.4-inch touchscreens.
Advertisement
That said, FCA is urging customers to get the software update to prevent hackers from taking over their vehicles.
Chrysler says it’s also taken steps to block the digital attack Miller and Valasek demonstrated with “network-level security measures”. Customers involved in the voluntary recall will also receive a USB device they can use to upgrade the automobile software.
“The recall aligns with an ongoing software distribution that insulates connected vehicles from remote manipulation, which, if unauthorised, constitutes criminal action”, said FCA US, the American arm of the Italian auto group, in a statement.
The bill would rely on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to develop the security standards.
The recall comes days after Wired reported a demonstration by hackers in which they were able to access and control a Chrysler Jeep as it was being driven. The process will speed up awareness of the availability of the software update for concerned vehicles. Many cars already come with a variety of IoT technologies like Bluetooth connections, remote key systems, wireless tire-pressure monitors, satellite radios, and dashboard Internet links.
However, in today’s world, where an average internet user can easily find the how-to’s for hacking a cell phone, instructions with exact step-by-step explanation about how to gain control over a moving vehicle would be rather easy to follow, and could potentially be posted online for others to use by hackers with access to an affected vehicle.
The recall covers about a million more cars and trucks than those initially identified as needing a software patch.
To check whether their vehicle is affected by this recall, customers can visit the company’s dedicated website and input their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
Advertisement
Mark Reuss, General Motors’ product development chief, wouldn’t comment specifically on the Jeep incident, but said Friday that GM is learning about security measures from the U.S. military and aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing.
