BMW Cars connect drive system is highly vulnerable for Hacking

Today’s cars have millions of lines of computer software and are increasingly connected. Many cars offer Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and cellular connections, can be linked with smartphones and other devices and even accept third-party apps. All provide potential attack points for hackers. About 2.2 million vehicles equipped with BMW AG’s ConnectedDrive service were vulnerable, ADAC said. The Munich-based carmaker said it upgraded the system to close the security gap and that the software update will take place automatically when a vehicle connects to BMW’s server.

“The BMW group has responded promptly and increased the security,” the company said in a statement.While BMW said the flaw wouldn’t have made it possible to drive off in the car, the security gap highlights risks associated with the increase in digital services in cars. Wireless-enabled features such as remote access or pre-heating the interior on a cold winter morning require new layers of security systems to safeguard the customer and the vehicle. The increasing use of electronics allowed hackers to reprogram access codes from on-board computers a few years ago.

That put vehicles at risk of theft until car companies including BMW boosted security. A security vulnerability in BMW’s Connected Drive system allowed researchers to imitate BMW servers and send remote unlocking instructions to vehicles. The attack took advantage of a feature that allows drivers who have been locked out of their vehicles to request remote unlocking of their car from a BMW assistance line.

Milan Tomic

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