Amazon Alexa Integration Into Vehicles Lends Itself to Potential Hacking Problems
Photo: Guillermo Fernandes
Amazon Alexa has revolutionized the way we run our homes. The new voice-command system allows us to control all different aspects of our home, from the lights and faucets to audio systems. Amazon Alexa is making its way into automotive to streamline our home lives with our daily commutes.
While most consumers are over the moon about the convenience Amazon Alexa offers, the addition of the voice-command system to the world of automotive is raising concerns about vehicle theft and hacking. Amazon Alexa creates a higher risk than other vehicle voice-command systems because it has access to your home, too.
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Alexa works the other way around, too. From your home, you can control certain features inside your car. You no longer have to leave the comfort of your couch to warm up your car on a cold day or roll up the windows before a rainstorm. However, according to The New York Times, those voice controls are restricted. Any commands that provide significant access to the car, such as remote start or keyless entry, require the user to input a PIN code. But here’s the catch: you have to say the PIN code out loud to Alexa.
Assuming someone overhears your code, they can have complete access to your vehicle and your home, violating your privacy and safety.
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“As we make everything smarter and more connected, we end up creating a huge attack surface on devices, like cars, that weren’t intended,” said Nadir Izrael, chief technology officer at Armis.
As the technology becomes more commonplace in automotive, it’s likely that security protections will increase. However, in its current state, the potential for infiltration by hackers, or pranksters, is shockingly high.
News Source: The New York Times
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