Nissan Motor Co. disabled a mobile application for controlling its Leaf electric car following a security researcher demonstrated how hackers could access temperature controls and other functions from across continents.
Japan’s second-largest automaker made the app unavailable after Australian researcher Troy Hunt demonstrated the capability to hack into a friend’s Leaf within the U.K. and access information about the battery status and climate controls. Hunt wrote the car’s vehicle identification number, that is visible through the car’s windshield, was the only piece of information needed to undermine the app’s insecure programming.
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U.S. regulators have required carmakers to bolster security measures after Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV last year recalled 1.4 million vehicles that hackers could access remotely and control the steering, brakes and engine. Mark Rosekind, administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in January required specific actions the government can take in the next year to speed the adoption of technologies that would make autos less vulnerable.
Nissan apologized on its Facebook page after disabling the electrical car’s app and said it’s working on an up-to-date version. The only functions that could be controlled remotely via the app can be operated manually, based on an e-mailed statement.
Bloomberg News
