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EVs and charging stations now on hackers' radar

80% of all hacks in 2021 were conducted remotely - without a physical connection between the hacker and the vehicle or charging station.

As electric vehicle sales increase across the world, EV charging stations are becoming a new target for hackers.

According to reports, the past few months have seen a rise in charging station hacking incidents. These include instances where hackers would load ransomware in chargers in order to either slow them down or stop its functionality altogether. Reports also suggest that hackers can lockout & hold a user's profile for ransom or even hack themselves into a charger and save on the charging fees. Yoav Levy, CEO of Upstream Security - an Israeli automotive cybersecurity provider, stated that hacks into the EV chargers have already started, with hackers mainly looking to make money.

However, reports also state that apart from the EV charging stations being vulnerable, cars are also being hacked into by outside operators for nefarious purposes. With technology like Over-the-air updates becoming common on today's cars, it makes it easier for hackers to gain access to vehicles. According to Levy, 80% of all hacks in 2021 were conducted remotely - without a physical connection between the hacker and the vehicle or charging station. He also mentions that eventually, hackers could target large fleet vehicles and ask for high ransom amounts.

Levy also stated that while security will get better with improvement in technology, right now, hackers are seeing a golden opportunity to make quick money.

Source: Automotive News

 
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