Tip of the Week - March 28, 2016 - Steps to Prevent Vehicle Hacking

Vehicle hacking is relatively new and there's a consumer, manufacturer,  and law enforcement learning curve on this one.  Vehicle hacking is when someone with a computer gains unauthorized access to your vehicle's operating system and can retrieve driver data or manipulate the function of the vehicle.

"This month the FBI, the Department of Transportation, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released a public service announcement, or alert, that details what vehicle hacking is and how to best reduce cyber security risks associated with your vehicle," said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) Foundation Chairman Kenny Ehrman. "Some of the risks happen when we plug our cell phones, tablets and other wireless devices into our vehicles for use."

Ehrman recommends that you review the steps in the alert to be sure you aren't doing anything to increase your risk of vehicle hacking.  Some of those steps include:

·        Ensuring your vehicle software is up to date

·        Using authorized software updates only

·        Be cautious of connecting third-party devices to your vehicle

·        Be aware of who has physical access to your vehicle

For the complete public service announcement, click here.