Get the Flash Player to see this player.
Cars these days are packed with high-tech features, but they’re not always safe.
Last year, news of a Jeep Cherokee getting hacked remotely brought attention to the potential disadvantages of today’s modern features. Now, a British security firm has managed to hack a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV by taking advantage of its Wi-Fi system.
Initially, Pen Test Partners found it peculiar that the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV’s mobile app works differently than other vehicles. You see, most apps communicate with the cloud before sending information to a vehicle, adding an extra layer of security. The Outlander PHEV’s app however, communicates directly with the vehicle through a Wi-Fi access point that has not been implemented securely, according to the hackers.
SEE ALSO: 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Review
The company managed to crack the Wi-Fi key and were then able to access several of the car’s functions including turning on the headlights and the climate control system. While those aren’t major issues, Pen Test Partners was also able to disable the car’s anti-theft and alarm system, making it quite easy to steal the car.
For now, the Japanese automaker is recommending that any concerned owners should deactivate the vehicle’s Wi-Fi using the “Cancel VIN Registration” option found in the app, or by using the remote app cancellation procedure found in the vehicle’s Multi Communication System.
Discuss this story on our Mitsubishi Forum
The post Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Hacked Through Car’s Wi-Fi appeared first on AutoGuide.com News.