Car Data Transmitters Pose Cybersecurity Risks
Argus Cyber Security Ltd., an Israeli cyber security firm, recently announced that it had succeeded in using a dongle, a device that many insurance companies install in vehicles to track policyholders’ driving behaviors, to gain access to a vehicle’s internal communication system. The announcement further raises concerns about the ability of hackers to take control of moving cars. Access to vehicles’ internal communication systems, could potentially allow hackers to shut down an engine remotely by using a smartphone app, a Bluetooth connection and a dongle. Argus Cyber’s exploit is merely the latest in a series of successful hacks that have received widespread attention, including the gaining control of a Jeep Cherokee by two security researchers using a wireless internet connection two years ago. This demonstration, however, represents the first successful attack on a dongle, a growing tool for insurers.
