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Teenager Accidentally Finds a Flaw That Lets Him Hack Dozens of Tesla Cars

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Summary

19-year-old cybersecurity researcher David Colombo accidentally discovered a vulnerability in a third-party app that allowed him to control a dozen Tesla cars. Upon further investigation, he found that hundreds of cars in different countries were vulnerable to an attack, and he was able to push commands to them. Colombo has disclosed this information publicly, since he was not able to find the contact details of the car owners, and has stressed that the flaw is not with Tesla's systems. This is not the first time a security flaw has been found in a Tesla car, and Tesla has offered a Model 3 to hackers who can hack into its cars.

Q&As

What flaw did 19-year-old cybersecurity researcher David Colombo discover in Tesla cars?
David Colombo discovered a vulnerability that allowed him to control a dozen Tesla cars.

How many cars were vulnerable to an attack through this vulnerability?
Colombo found 25 Tesla vehicles that were vulnerable to an attack.

What were the potential consequences of this vulnerability?
The vulnerability could potentially allow a hacker to disable security features, open and close doors, and turn up the music.

Who owns the third-party app related to the vulnerability?
The details of the third-party app are currently under wraps.

What other security flaws have been found in Tesla cars in the past?
Earlier a software vulnerability allowed a hacker to turn off a moving Tesla's engine.

AI Comments

👍 It is commendable that the 19-year-old researcher was able to uncover a vulnerability that could affect hundreds of Tesla cars. It is also encouraging to see Tesla rewarding security researchers for identifying flaws in their vehicles.

👎 The vulnerability could allow malicious actors to cause harm if it is not fixed quickly, which highlights the need for better security protocols when it comes to cars.

AI Discussion

Me: It talks about how a teenager accidentally found a flaw that let him hack dozens of Tesla cars. He found it while auditing a seemingly unrelated third-party app. It raises some serious implications about the security of Tesla cars and other connected devices.

Friend: Wow, that's really concerning. It's scary to think that someone who isn't even an expert can find a security flaw that can affect so many people.

Me: Yeah, it really is. It also raises the question of how safe our data is when we connect our devices to third-party apps. It's important to be aware of the risks that come with using these apps, and to make sure we're using them responsibly.

Action items

Research the security vulnerabilities of other cars and vehicles to stay ahead of the curve.
Learn more about the third-party app that was used to access the vulnerability and how it can be secured.
Reach out to Tesla to learn more about their security protocols and how they are addressing the issue.

Technical terms

Vulnerability: A vulnerability is a weakness in a system or application that can be exploited by an attacker to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or resources.
Auditing: Auditing is the process of examining and verifying the accuracy of a system or process.
Third-Party App: A third-party app is an application created by a developer or company that is not affiliated with the primary platform or service provider.
Cybersecurity: Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting networks, systems, and programs from digital attacks.
Hacking: Hacking is the unauthorized access or control of a computer system or network.