Tesla Model 3 stolen via digital key loophole in app
Unlock Tesla, start engine, disable GPS and drive off quietly.
Elon Musk says the robots have already won in the future artificial intelligence war of man against machine. But in this case, the criminal (at least for a short time) beat the rental company and successfully unlocked the Model 3 and did not harm the environment while enjoying the 354km distance it can travel until needing some juice.
The black-hat inclined 21-year-old man has been arrested in Texas after stealing a Tesla Model 3 from a rental company using only the Tesla app, by likely using a loophole in Tesla’s procedures.
“What it sounds like this person may have done is convince Tesla to take the VIN number of that vehicle and add it to his Tesla account," he said in a statement quoted by Electrek.
"By doing that, you can do that with a phone call. By doing that, you can now control the Tesla from an app on your phone.”
This procedure is usually reserved for Tesla owners with loan vehicles who wish to use mobile features, such as unlocking and starting the car without the need for keys.
The suspect had previously rented the same car from Trevls, and had his phone linked to the car while in his possession. The rental company's CEO said his authentication was removed when the car was returned, and wasn't able to confirm how the suspect managed to get in a second time around.
Despite disabling GPS tracking, the suspect was caught because the car's owners could see when and where he was stopping to charge the car at Tesla’s supercharger points.
The security element of remotely accessed cars will likely grow in relevance over the coming years, with more manufacturers such as Lynk & Co and Volvo looking to do away with traditional keys in future models.
Although they're designed to make life easier for people who want to loan their cars to friends or family members, and potentially open the door for more advanced car sharing, there's also a new set of risks associated with relying on a digital key.
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Comments (33)
Before saying something like "keys are so great and this is insecure" I want you to know that anyone that receives a key of another car can copy that key, so the insecurity was there all along...
Not on a car built after the adoption of OBD II in 1997 as that key will include a transponder chip which sits in the plastic shroud of the key. These transponders are not easy to clone.
Say that to Brazilian car thieves... Doesn't take more than 30 seconds for ther little machine to pick up your key signal and reproduce it to open the car and drive away
And can we just agree on one simple, irrefutable fact...Tesla’s are pig ugly. They’ve got an Aztec, a Taurus, and an impala. The most high tech Aztec, Taurus, and Impala, but god lord! Who really thinks they are good looking? Steal the damn thing! I’ll take the Jag I-pace...now if I’m shelling out $80,000, it better look $80,000, drive $80,000, and feel $80,000 inside.
I always thought Tesla was designed after simpson racing helmets or face of movie predator.
Oh very good comparisons too! They just lack any design, style, or refinement. If you check out my first post to DRIVETRIBE, I found two pictures that show a convincing comparison!
Well what the fuck where they expecting. It was only a matter of time until car theives exploited the app system they have. If you use your phone as car keys, what happens if you lose your phone. Someone could pick it up, and steal your car. Madness.
Boy I do love the smell of lung cancer in the mornings. Fuck Tesla and EVs, now where's my sister gone.
suck my balls you blind trend train hopping ass tree hugger
What the...😂
Fucking new cars
Whatever your into man, but Tesla’s don’t have exhausts so you may not get far
I was joking lol