More and more cars these days have integrated computer systems – with some vehicles containing up to 100 microprocessors or more! These run everything from dashboard “infotainment” systems to critical systems that control the car’s transmission, engine, and exhaust systems.
Given this high level of computerization in cars, trucks, and SUVs, there’s a growing concern about the ability to hack cars and take over critical systems. With cars becoming more connected internally and externally – through wi-fi, satellites, cell signals, and even the relatively new Intelligent Transportation Systems standard – the number of ways for people to hack into a vehicle and wrest control away from the driver is greater than ever.