Automaker Recalls 1.4 Million Cars
Three days after a report that hackers took control of a Jeep Cherokee and drove it into a ditch, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles recalled 1.4 million vehicles for a software update.
The automaker said the hack appeared to be an isolated incident that could not be easily repeated. The coding for the hack required extensive technical knowledge of the vehicle.
The company said it already has made the security fix via its cellular network, so drivers don’t need to take their vehicles in to dealers.
Wired reported on Tuesday that earlier this month, two well-known cybersecurity researchers took control of the Jeep Cherokee in St. Louis through the car’s UConnect entertainment and navigation system from 10 miles away.
During the experiment, a reporter drove on a St. Louis highway while researchers Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek toyed with the windshield wipers, radio and accelerator. At one point, they cut the Jeep’s brakes, causing the vehicle to roll into a ditch.
Fiat Chrysler owners can check their Vehicle Identification Numbers at http://www.driveuconnect.com/software-update/ to see whether their vehicles are affected.
