Hyundai now offers an optional security upgrade for its Ioniq 5. This feature has been designed to prevent theft using portable devices that can unlock and start cars without a key, according to a company. Hyundai is charging customers an extra fee of £49 (approximately Rs 5,768) for this security enhancement.
The device that can be used to hack into these vehicles and steal them may resemble a Game Boy. Such devices have been previously used to steal vehicles like Kia, Hyundai, and Genesis EVs in the UK and other countries, as per a report by The Verge. They work by exploiting wireless protocols that Hyundai Motor Group uses to unlock models like Kia EV6, Genesis GV60, and Hyundai Ioniq 5.
While these Game Boy-like devices cost around €20,000 in Europe, they have been widely used to steal numerous Kia, Hyundai, Nissan, Genesis, and Mitsubishi models in recent years. In 2024, the Hyundai Ioniq and Kia EV6 were among the most stolen cars in the UK, showcasing how vulnerable these vehicles are to such attacks.
Reports indicate that the devices can intercept the signal when you touch a car’s door handle, crack the security algorithm, and send back a signal that convinces the car it has a legitimate key, unlocking the doors. The same method can then be used to start and steal the vehicle, as easily as pressing a button instead of performing a relay attack to amplify the key’s signal.
Last year, security researchers also found a vulnerability in Kia’s web interface that allowed hackers to unlock and start vehicles. Hyundai Motor Group, which is the parent company of the Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis brands, was reportedly notified of a number of security issues, including this one. Hyundai and Kia reached a $200 million settlement in 2023 over the ‘Kia Boyz’ attacks, which gave burglars the ability to get around car security by utilising a USB cord.
In the UK, Hyundai is offering Ioniq 5 owners a paid update, with the website stating a “customer contribution of £49”. Hyundai has claimed this update will address “evolving security threats” with improved hardware and software.
This issue has come to light because Hyundai is asking customers to pay for the safety of their vehicles against system flaws, even though the South Korean auto-maker offers a five-year warranty on its vehicles.
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