Relax, Your Car Will Soon Be Safe From Revenge-Driven Extortionist Hackers

Apparently, it’s Technology Tuesday here at TTAC, so we can bring you news of a device that will kick your deeply held fears to the curb.

Vehicle hacking has been an issue ever since a Jeep Cherokee had its steering, transmission and brakes commandeered last summer, and an Israeli firm is now offering protection against keyboard warriors, according to CNBC (via Business Insider).

Karamba Security unveiled a security system designed for connected vehicles last week, promising a wall of defense against malevolent malware enthusiasts. The system shuts down any code that wasn’t written by the automaker’s tech team, preventing outsiders from hijacking a vehicle’s operating systems.

Infotainment and GPS systems are the keyhole that hackers wriggle through to get at the systems that affect driveability, so this is where Karamba’s firewall would sit. To get its technology into vehicles, Karamba would have to form a partnership with the manufacturers who provide the systems to automakers.

There’s plenty of competition from larger security players in this emerging field, but the speed at which vehicles are becoming connected is increasing, making it a race for Karamba and others to stay ahead of the hacker’s game. Autonomous systems are being put in charge of ever more vehicle functions, providing new doors for hackers to walk through.

It’s not hard to imagine the havoc that could be caused by a vehicle’s automatic emergency braking system suddenly activating on a highway, or the fancy doors of the upcoming Lincoln Continental failing to unlock on a hot day. And self-driving cars … well, that could turn into Speed 3 in a hurry.

Frankly, if Hollywood scriptwriters aren’t getting inspiration from some of these ideas, they’re even dumber than people assume.