Next week at the SyScan conference, anyone who registers can enter the competition to win $10,000 if they can successfully hack into the famous electric supercar, the Tesla Model S. This vehicle was created by Elon Musk and “braniac-kid” mechanics. Hacking this car won’t be a simple task.
The conference is taking place in Beijing from July 16-17. Organizers of this challenging event are saying there will computers on site, but other than that aren’t revealing much about the exact rules defining this competition. It appears that it will take a major tech-whiz to be able to hack this car. Rumor has it that SyScan expects their winner to control a Tesla vehicle from a PC or make the in-dash browser inside the car visit specified websites (to see if malware infection is a possibility in the vehicle). Tesla Motors is well known for their high-level of security – so this car won’t be an easy “nut-to-crack.”
Tesla stated that they have no involvement in the competition, nor is the contest supported by the manufacturer. However, they realize that the world is gravitating towards the Internet of Things (IoT) and that there is potential for digital attacks. Forbes reported just last year that, “DARPA-funded researchers are being paid to hack cars and they’re succeeding. Researchers Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek managed to take control of Ford and Toyota cars to turn on the brakes and jolt the steering wheel.” How scary is that? Imagine someone being able to take over your car while you are driving? The thought isn’t a pleasant one!
This competition is beneficial to consumers because it will help researchers identify any weaknesses in the car that need to be fixed. Ultimately, it will help them better build the next generation of tech-savvy vehicles with internet, software, and automated capabilities. Peace of mind is what consumers seek in digital cars, so peace of mind they shall receive.
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Source: Forbes