Why Your Car Is the Next Ransomware Target

Why Your Car Is the Next Ransomware Target - Tech Digital Minds

(Connected Vehicle Exploits in Tesla & BYD Systems)

Imagine walking to your car on a Monday morning, only to find a message on your infotainment screen: “Pay 0.03 BTC to unlock your vehicle.” The digital threat landscape is evolving fast. And if you think ransomware is just about computers, think again. Your car might be the next big target.

With the rapid integration of smart systems in modern vehicles, especially from brands like Tesla and BYD, our cars are no longer just machines that get us from point A to B they’re data-driven, internet-connected computers on wheels. And that makes them ripe for exploitation.

In this post, we’ll explore how connected cars are becoming ransomware targets, what recent exploits in Tesla and BYD systems reveal, and what this means for consumers, automakers, and cybersecurity experts alike.

1. The Evolution of Automotive Technology: A Blessing and a Curse

Today’s vehicles are equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), over-the-air (OTA) updates, integrated apps, voice assistants, GPS tracking, autonomous features, and remote control capabilities through mobile apps.

These features provide convenience, performance insights, and even safety improvements. But they also create new attack vectors.

Key points of connectivity in modern cars:

Infotainment systems (Android Auto, Apple CarPlay)
Telematics control units (TCUs) with cellular/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth
ECUs (Electronic Control Units) controlling braking, steering, engine
Over-the-air (OTA) updates that can alter software remotely
Mobile apps for remote starting, unlocking, locating, and monitoring

With increased connectivity comes increased exposure. Every line of code becomes a potential entry point.

2. Real Exploits: Tesla and BYD in the Crosshairs

Both Tesla and BYD, giants in the electric vehicle space, have had their systems scrutinized, and in some cases, exploited by ethical hackers and researchers.

Tesla’s Remote Takeover (Pwn2Own Hack, 2023):

In a recent white-hat hacking competition, researchers from Synacktiv demonstrated a full exploit chain allowing them to:

Gain root access to Tesla’s infotainment system
Execute code remotely through the car’s Wi-Fi interface
Unlock doors, manipulate wipers, and potentially access driving functions

While Tesla issued patches quickly, the fact that full system access was achieved in a controlled setting underscores just how vulnerable these systems are.

BYD Vulnerabilities (2024 Findings):

Chinese EV manufacturer BYD was found to have:

Weak encryption in its telematics APIs
Hard-coded credentials in its mobile app
Unencrypted transmission of location data

Researchers highlighted how a malicious actor could intercept API calls to track or disable BYD vehicles or access sensitive driver data.

Though BYD has responded with security updates, it raises an alarm: When software updates become common, software-based threats do too.

3. What Is Ransomware, and Why It’s a Perfect Fit for Cars

Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a victim’s data or disables key functionality until a ransom is paid usually in cryptocurrency.

We’ve seen this in hospitals, government institutions, and critical infrastructure (e.g., Colonial Pipeline). But cars offer a new kind of leverage.

Imagine this scenario:

You attempt to start your vehicle.
Instead, a screen pops up: “Your car has been locked. Pay 0.05 BTC to regain access.”
The steering wheel, brakes, or gear selector have been disabled via compromised ECUs.
The hacker threatens to leak your location data or driving history.

For many, cars are daily necessities. The urgency to regain access could pressure victims to pay fast just like in traditional ransomware attacks.

4. Attack Vectors: How Hackers Could Gain Access

Let’s break down the technical pathways ransomware could enter your vehicle:

a. Telematics API Exploits

Vulnerabilities in the APIs used for remote car management can allow hackers to intercept data and issue remote commands.

b. Mobile App Hijacking

If the car owner’s app is compromised (e.g., via phishing or malware), attackers can take control of the vehicle’s remote commands.

c. Wi-Fi & Bluetooth Injection

Many cars have onboard hotspots and Bluetooth connections. Weak encryption or old firmware can expose entry points.

d. OTA Update Spoofing

If the process for receiving and verifying over-the-air software updates is not secure, hackers can inject malicious code disguised as an official update.

e. Physical Access Malware

Cars taken in for service or valet could potentially be infected through USB ports or diagnostic tools.

5. Legal and Ethical Minefields: Who’s Responsible?

In the event of a ransomware attack on a vehicle, who takes the fall?

The manufacturer? For shipping insecure software?
The owner? For installing third-party apps or failing to update?
Third-party vendors? For supplying vulnerable infotainment software?

The legal framework is murky. Unlike computers or phones, vehicles involve public safety raising the stakes for manufacturers.

The EU’s UNECE WP.29 cybersecurity regulation, already adopted by many carmakers, mandates security measures for new vehicles but enforcement and compliance vary.

6. Mitigations: What Can Be Done (Now and in the Future)

For Manufacturers:

Regular security audits
End-to-end encryption for APIs
Secure OTA processes with digital signatures
White-hat bounty programs (like Tesla’s)
Minimal permissions on mobile apps

For Consumers:

Keep apps and vehicles updated
Avoid jailbreaking or third-party firmware
Monitor app permissions closely
Use multi-factor authentication on car accounts
Disable remote features when not in use

For Policymakers:

Set clearer liability guidelines
Create a national incident response framework
Require minimum cybersecurity standards for all vehicle manufacturers

7. A Growing Threat with Real-World Consequences

Cyberattacks on vehicles aren’t hypothetical anymore.

In 2020, hackers accessed 25+ Tesla vehicles in 13 countries via a third-party software vulnerability. In 2022, an attacker claimed to have remotely unlocked and started over a dozen Teslas.

These weren’t accidents they were testaments to how car ecosystems, once secure by obscurity, are now part of the broader internet-of-things (IoT) battlefield.

As more vehicles become autonomous and connected, the risks intensify. It’s not just about losing access to your Spotify or GPS. It’s about control, safety, and the potential weaponization of transportation.

8. Final Thoughts: The Road Ahead

As we embrace smarter vehicles, we also inherit the dark side of digital transformation. Tesla, BYD, and others are pushing the envelope in innovation but with great connectivity comes great vulnerability.

Cybersecurity must become a core part of the automotive design process not an afterthought. And consumers, too, must stay alert.

Because the next time ransomware hits, it might not freeze your files.
It might hijack your ride.

James