Car Stolen by Hacking IoT Devices

Recently criminals managed to hack into a sophisticated vehicle control system connected to the internet of things (IoT) through the headlights. The control system is managed by a controller area network (CAN), an IoT protocol that allows devices and microcontrollers in a car to communicate with each other.

By manipulating the electronic control unit (ECU) in the Toyota RAV4 headlights. Once connected via the headlights, an attacker can gain access to the CAN bus, which is responsible for functions such as the parking brake, headlights and smart locks, and then to the powertrain panel where the engine controls are located. While hacking high-end cars is nothing new, this attack method highlights the vulnerabilities in the IoT protocol, necessitating greater security measures in automotive systems. This incident will force manufacturers to improve the security of their vehicle networks.