Ford's 400,000 Car Recall Foretells Future Of Car Security Issues
Ford’s recall of more than 400,000 cars in North America to fix a software bug may be just the first of many for the motor industry as automobiles become increasingly complex, security researchers warn.
As previously reported, a total of 433,000 2015 Focus, C-MAX, and Escape cars are being recalled to dealerships for a software update as a result of the snafu – which means drivers may not be able to turn off engines on some of the latest vehicles, even if they remove the ignition key – as a notice by the car maker explains.
Dealers will update the body control module software at no cost to the customer, Ford promises.
Ken Munro, Director at security consultancy Pen Test Partners, and a security researcher who has investigated aspects of electronic car insecurity, said that updates of this type will become more commonplace as car makers pack more and more complicated electronics into vehicles.
"The recent recall by Ford involving the engine failing to stop underlines the increasing need for over-the-air (OTA) software updates," Munro explained.
"As manufacturers cram more software into cars, the potential for more security and functionality bugs increases. More bugs equals more recalls, which will be a pain for customers and expensive for manufacturers as cars have to go to service centers for patching," he added.
Higher end vehicles are increasingly featuring Wi-Fi and GSM connectivity. Tesla allows updates to be rolled out when the car is parked at home in Wi-Fi range, although such updates potentially create an even bigger security update, Munro warned.