A 19-year-old claims to have discovered holes in third-party software used by a limited number of Tesla Inc. car owners, which might allow hackers to remotely control certain of the vehicles’ capabilities.
The weaknesses, according to David Colombo, a self-described information technology security specialist, allowed him to unlock doors and windows, start cars without keys, and disable security systems.
Colombo, who is based in Germany, also claims to be able to detect whether or not a driver is present in the vehicle, as well as turn on the stereo systems and flash the headlights.
Colombo supplied images and other proof of his study in an interview, identifying the software’s developer and detailing the weaknesses. Because the impacted organisation hasn’t yet announced a remedy, he requested that do not disclose specifics.
Colombo claimed he had access to more than 25 Tesla cars in at least 13 countries, and when he couldn’t reach most of the owners directly, he went to Twitter.
Tesla was formed in 2003 by a group of engineers who wanted to show that driving electric vehicles doesn’t have to be a compromise – that they can be better, faster, and more fun to drive than gasoline cars.
Tesla now manufactures not only all-electric automobiles, but also renewable energy generation and storage systems that are infinitely scalable. The faster the world moves away from fossil fuels and toward a zero-emission future, Tesla believes, the better.
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