Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Fiat Chrysler is calling on hackers to improve the software in its cars

Jonathan Keane
By

Fiat 124 Spyder
Miles Branman/Digital Trends
Fiat Chrysler (FCA US) has launched a bug bounty program on Bugcrowd, and is paying out prizes of up to $1,500 for tracking down security vulnerabilities in its vehicles.

White hat hackers and security researchers will be able to submit bugs they’ve found in Fiat Chrysler’s vehicle software in exchange for cash prizes, ranging from $150 to $1,500 for more severe flaws.

Recommended Videos

“There are a lot of people that like to tinker with their vehicles or tinker with IT systems,” said Titus Melnyk, senior manager of security architecture at Fiat Chrysler. “We want to encourage independent security researchers to reach out to us and share what they’ve found so that we can fix it before it becomes an issue for our consumers.”

Related

Bugcrowd is a platform for bug county programs and features a network of more than 30,000 ethical hackers that can scrutinize companies’ software for flaws. Fiat Chrysler is now the first Bugcrowd partner to offer a bug bounty for its vehicle’s software. Other car manufactures have offered bug rewards before but only for their websites.

This announcement comes one year after the infamous Jeep Cherokee hack in which two hackers, Charlie Miller and Chris Valesek, were able to take over control of the vehicle mid-drive by infiltrating its software remotely.

Not long after that, Fiat Chrysler recalled 1.4 million cars and trucks over buggy radios that left the vehicles vulnerable to hackers.

“Automotive cybersafety is real, critical, and here to stay. Car manufacturers have the opportunity to engage the community of hackers that is already at the table and ready to help, and FCA US is the first full-line automaker to optimize that relationship through its paid bounty program,” said Bugcrowd CEO Casey Ellis.

“The consumer is starting to understand that these days the car is basically a 2-ton computer,” he added. The company and its network of researchers and hackers said it wants to help car makers write better, more secure code for the future.

Fiat Chrysler is “dedicated to collaboration and engagement” with researchers to build better security into its cars, said Sandra Hosler, from the carmaker’s cybersecurity department, in a statement.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Jonathan Keane
Jonathan Keane
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jonathan is a freelance technology journalist living in Dublin, Ireland. He's previously written for publications and sites…
Fiat Chrysler recalls nearly 300,000 Ram 1500 pickup trucks in the U.S.
2019 ram 1500 review 1

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is recalling 343,000 Ram 1500 trucks globally over a software issue that may result in airbags and seat belt pretensioners failing to activate in a collision.

The notice comes just three months after the automaker recalled 860,000 gas-powered vehicles comprised of various models because they failed to meet emissions standards.

Read more
Google, Harman are helping Fiat-Chrysler overhaul its infotainment tech
what is uconnect rg 4

Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) will overhaul its connected-car and infotainment technologies with help from Samsung's Harman division and Google. The company -- whose portfolio of brands includes Fiat, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, and Lancia -- will begin rolling out its new software and features during the second half of 2019.

Harman and Google are helping FCA create what it called a comprehensive ecosystem of connected services designed to keep users connected on the go, allowing them to easily share their car with others, save money on insurance, and find the nearest electric car charging station, among other features. Harman's cloud-based Ignite platform will power all of these services. A 4G connection will power them, but every part of FCA's ecosystem is developed with 5G compatibility in mind. The firm stressed it put a big focus on future-proofing its technology to ensure it doesn't have to start from scratch in a few short years.

Read more
Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs
Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Read more