Gang Steals 150 Jeeps by Hacking Computer Codes

Many of us worry about our computers being hacked, but could your car get hacked as well? Over the course of several years, a Mexican biker gang stole 150 Jeep Wranglers in the San Diego area using hacked entry codes to break in, according to a story in the Washington Post. Now, nine members of the Tijuana-based gang have been indicted on theft charges.

California law enforcement officials claim that the culprits were able to create duplicate car keys and access codes once they accessed the vehicles’ VINs. While it remains inconclusive just how the group was able to hack the proprietary database with those access codes, the result – 150 stolen Jeeps – is clear.

Your car and cybersecurity

We all know our cars are getting smarter: they are Bluetooth-enabled with backup sensors and even Wi-Fi. While these enhancements make our cars more exciting (and perhaps more useful), they lead to additional risks as well. Are manufacturers keeping our vehicles as secure as, say, an iPhone or a Dell Desktop computer? The answer depends on what make and model your car is, but legislators in Washington are trying to create federal regulations to keep drivers safe.

In March of this year, the Security and Privacy in Your Car (SPY Car) Act of 2017 was reintroduced into Congress, after first being introduced in January. The SPY Car Act makes the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the FTC responsible for automotive cyber security. The law would require critical vehicle operating systems to be tested for security.

If there is a hacking attempt, the SPY Car Act also requires cars to be equipped with the ability to detect the breach, report it, and stop it from taking over the vehicle or collecting driving data. Under the proposed legislation, a manufacturer that failed to include the capability to detect a hacking breach would be fined $5,000 per vehicle that didn’t have security technology built in.

Motor vehicle hacking is still relatively rare, but drivers encounter thousands of other risks on the road each day. At Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., we fight for justice for people throughout Maryland who were injured as the result of someone’s negligence. Please call 410-730-7737 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced Maryland car accident lawyer today.