Skip to main content

Smart cars are hackable cars. Are the features worth the risk?

The automotive world is one of give and take. If you want hardcore performance, you sacrifice comfort; if you prioritize fuel economy and luxury, you probably won’t be king of the racetrack; and if you have a connected car, you may be vulnerable to hackers.

Cybersecurity concerns have swirled around the transportation sector for some time, but never with the same gravitas that coursed through the blogosphere last week. Chris Valasek — Director of Vehicle Security Research for the security consultancy IOActive — and Charlie Miller — a former NSA employee — were able to able to hijack a Jeep Cherokee’s Unconnect infotainment system via the car’s cellular network. Once they were in, the duo was able to send signals to the car’s computer system, manipulating the brakes, engine, and transmission with a couple laptops in a living room. All they needed was the vehicle’s IP address.

Recommended Videos

If you’re still driving your grandpa’s 1968 Oldsmobile, you probably weren’t too worried. If you own a more modern car though, one packed with wireless features and the ability to link with mobile devices, the news probably gave you some pause. And for good reason.

Charlie Miller (left) and Chris Valasek (right)
Charlie Miller (left) and Chris Valasek (right) Whitney Curtis/Wired

The modern car market demands increased functionality and inter-device communication from the factory, and there are unique security threats that come along with that. Any time a vehicle’s systems are connected to the Internet — directly or indirectly — there will be gaps in the digital armor. The fallout could be something as simple as an unresponsive radio or flashing headlights, but as we found out last week, cybercriminals can potentially access a car’s vital systems remotely, and we don’t need to explain how dangerous that is.

Any time a vehicle’s systems are connected to the Internet — directly or indirectly — there will be gaps in the digital armor.

We have yet to hear about a harmful unauthorized attack on a passenger vehicle, and clearly Valasek and Miller are not amateurs, but the vulnerabilities are clear. It’s not just Jeep vehicles either: nearly every major automaker offers an infotainment system that’s connected to the Web: Ford, Toyota, Honda, Volvo, Volkswagen, Subaru, Hyundai … you name it. Tesla’s newest vehicles can even download powertrain updates over the air, which directly affect the car’s acceleration. Is it only a matter of time before something horrible happens outside of a controlled experiment?

For answers, we turn to the carmakers themselves, and Fiat Chrysler’s initial response to the events was quite interesting. On July 22, the brand put out a press release, explaining that “some functions” had been remotely controlled, and that the automotive industry is a potential hacking target like any other. After the community began to flex its muscles, the company implemented a recall of 1.4 million vehicles, issuing USB sticks that contained a software patch to every owner alongside network-level security measures. Mailing out a truckload of thumb drives seems like an ironically insecure way to fix the problem, but a major automaker has admitted that modern cars are at risk from the attacks of cybercriminals. That’s big.

It’s impossible to say whether or not the company would have issued the recall if it weren’t for the original Wired story, but there is a clear cause and effect here — call the manufacturers out on their failings and they will address them. If we don’t? That’s a scary thought.

The U.S. government has responded as well. Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) have introduced a new bill called The Security and Privacy in Your Car Act (SPY Car Act). The legislation will direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Trade Commission to set industrywide benchmarks to protect driver safety and privacy, shining regulatory light on an issue that was largely contained within the automotive sector until now.

“Rushing to roll out the next big thing, automakers have left cars unlocked to hackers and data-trackers,” said Senator Blumenthal. “This common-sense legislation protects the public against cybercriminals who exploit exciting advances in technology like self-driving and wireless connected cars. Federal law must provide minimum standards and safeguards that keep hackers out of drivers’ private data lanes.”

It’s a start, but in the meantime, there will be hiccups. Personal safety and priceless information are all at stake here, but despite our best efforts, federal agencies, credit card machines, dating websites, and celebrity Twitter accounts are hacked every single day. It’s a constant rat race to keep up, and unfortunately for us, it’s not always the guy with the suit and tie that gets there first.

As car buyers, we crave connectivity. We lust for convenience. But are we ready to live with the consequences?

Andrew Hard
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
Toyota unveils 2026 bZ: A smarter, longer-range electric SUV
toyota bz improved bz4x 2026 0007 1500x1125

Toyota is back in the electric SUV game with the 2026 bZ, a major refresh of its bZ4X that finally delivers on two of the biggest demands from EV drivers: more range and faster charging.
The headline news is the improved driving range. Toyota now estimates up to 314 miles on a single charge for the front-wheel-drive model with the larger 74.7-kWh battery—about 60 miles more than the outgoing bZ4X. All-wheel-drive variants also get a boost, with up to 288 miles of range depending on trim.
Charging speeds haven’t increased in terms of raw kilowatts (still capped at 150 kW for DC fast charging), but Toyota has significantly improved how long peak speeds are sustained. With preconditioning enabled—especially helpful in colder weather—the new bZ can charge from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Also new: Plug and Charge support for automatic payment at compatible stations and full adoption of the North American Charging Standard (NACS), meaning access to Tesla Superchargers will be standard by 2026.
Under the hood, or rather the floor, Toyota has swapped in higher-performance silicon carbide components to improve efficiency and power delivery. The AWD version now produces up to 338 horsepower and sprints from 0–60 mph in a brisk 4.9 seconds.
Toyota didn’t stop at just the powertrain. The exterior has been cleaned up, with body-colored wheel arches replacing the black cladding, and a sleeker front fascia. Inside, a larger 14-inch touchscreen now houses climate controls, giving the dash a more refined and less cluttered appearance. There’s also more usable storage thanks to a redesigned center console.
With the 2026 bZ, Toyota seems to be responding directly to critiques of the bZ4X. It’s faster, more efficient, and more driver-friendly—finally bringing Toyota’s EV efforts up to speed.

Read more
Cheaper EVs ahead? GM and LG say new battery cells are the key
2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV front quarter view.

General Motors and LG Energy Solution have announced a new phase in their ongoing partnership: developing a new battery cell chemistry that could significantly lower the cost of electric vehicles. The joint effort centers on lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) battery cells, a variation of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) that’s gaining popularity for being more affordable and less reliant on expensive materials like nickel and cobalt.

This is a big deal because battery costs are still the single largest expense in producing EVs. According to GM and industry experts, LMFP cells could help bring the cost of electric vehicles close to — or even on par with — gas-powered cars. The goal? Making EVs accessible to a broader range of drivers without sacrificing range or performance.

Read more
Waymo recalled 1,200 robotaxis following collisions with road barriers
Waymo Jaguar I-Pace

Waymo’s autonomous-car technology has made great advances over the years to the point where it’s now allowed to offer paid robotaxi rides in select locations in the U.S.

But the development of the technology is ongoing, and the robotaxi rides continue to gather valuable data for Waymo engineers to pore over as they further refine the driverless system to make it as reliable and efficient as possible. Which is why glitches will sometimes occur.

Read more