No profit to hack car computers – for now

As transportation evolves from mechanical to digital, hackers are following the computers into cars.

Just about any new car can be hacked — some even driven by remote control — as automakers depend more on software and wireless connections. Vehicle vulnerability may only grow as cars become their own wireless hot spots with the advent of automated braking and steering systems, experts warn.

It’s already happening. This year, two cybersecurity researchers remotely put a Jeep Cherokee into a ditch by hacking the crossover’s UConnect radio. Jeep recalled 1.4 million vehicles in July to install a patch that plugged the digital security hole.

Industry experts are divided over how much consumers should worry.

“Right now, it is really hard to do,” said Chris Valasek, one of the Jeep hackers and director of vehicle security research at IOActive, a computer security company. “It takes a lot of resources, money, and you have to be an expert. I am not concerned that someone will take over my car.”

Large-scale hacking of computers is ubiquitous because criminals can make money stealing personal and financial data, or by locking up devices, demanding ransom money or using them to spread spam, viruses and malware.

At least for now, there’s little profit in hacking a car, Valasek said.

That could change as cars become more robotic, especially if car technology gains the ability to make purchases or conduct transactions, he said.