As if Volkswagen haven’t already been in hot water enough because of the emissions scandal, it has now been discovered that millions of Volkswagen vehicles are reportedly prone to theft by hacking.
This is because the keyless entry system can reportedly be hacked, with vehicles that have been sold since 1995 being at risk.
How does it work?
Radio technology is used by the hackers which can intercept radio signals from the key fob. When owners press the key fob, hackers can pick up and capture the radio signals from the car within 300 feet of it. The signal can then be used to clone the key which can then be used to gain access to the car.
Hackers only need either a radio and laptop, or Arduino board and a radio receiver, to be able to do it.
What Volkswagen have said
Volkswagen have said to Automotive News that: “This current vehicle generation is not afflicted by the problems prescribed”. They claim that current Golf, Passat, Tiguan and Touran are not at risk.
Volkswagen has refused to comment on whether any other models have been affected – but, apparently, according to research, these flaws were also found on other Volkswagen Group vehicles like the 2016 Audi Q3.
This report was only on Volkswagen’s mass market brand. Many other companies such as Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Porsche are also part of the Volkswagen group, so these vehicles may also have the same vulnerability.
The vehicles on Volkswagen’s newest MQB platform do not seem to have the same vulnerability.
It will be interesting to see how Volkswagen handle this latest scandal…
Sources: www.motortrend.com/news/100-million-volkswagens-vulnerable-hacking-report-says/ and www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3695969/Many-fitness-trackers-leak-personal-data-study.html