It emerged earlier this year that cars made by Kia and Hyundai in the USA, particularly those with manual or mechanical keys, were very susceptible to theft. A rough estimate indicates that this broad problem affects nearly 9 million owners, which is remarkable. Within the automobile industry, there are considerable concerns about these vehicles' susceptibility to theft. Given the scope of the issue, it is important that quick action be taken to fix the security flaws in these Kia and Hyundai vehicles. It is essential that Hyundai and Kia take serious steps to secure their cars as owners consider the possible challenges. The car industry and relevant authorities are keeping an attentive eye on the situation and are looking for ways to protect the impacted vehicles and win back the trust of the many owners who are affected by this persistent concern about car theft. As attempts are made to address and correct the situation, keep watching out for updates.
The USB-A Cable Security Weakness in Hyundai and Kia Automobiles
1. Tech-Aware The criminals
Theft of cars is changing as thieves use more sophisticated and tech-savvy techniques.
2. Inventive Approach
Although most thieves employ specialised tools, Kia and Hyundai automobiles faced an unusual threat from perpetrators who could take them with only a USB-A cable.
3. Easy Approach
The engine may be started by thieves gaining access to the cabin, removing the steering column trims, taking out the ignition cylinder, and inserting a USB-A wire into a ledge-shaped device. This technique, astonishingly, got over the immobiliser device.
4. Fixed Software Patch
For cars containing immobiliser chips, a free software update was released to stop any USB-A cable thefts.
5. Remaining Vulnerabilities
In spite of the patch, vehicles lacking immobiliser chips were still subject to this straightforward yet potent method of vehicle theft.
6. Problems with Security
The discovery of a security flaw in Kia and Hyundai cars emphasises the need for comprehensive approaches to shield owners from these kinds of theft risks. Keep up with the latest developments in the car industry's attempt to improve security protocols and foil these creative theft schemes.
Due to the weakness, thieves were able to take advantage of an easy method, which resulted in an increase in auto thefts across the country. In the USA, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 114 highlights how an engine or motor in a car must be able to stop the normal activation of the starting mechanism in the absence of a key. Yet it was discovered that this vital security feature was absent from Kia and Hyundai automobiles using mechanical keys.
Class-Action Settlement and New Lawsuit
Kia and Hyundai previously committed to pay USD 145 million to address security concerns, compensating 9 million drivers for their out-of-pocket losses. This was a component of the USD 200 million settlement for the owners' class-action lawsuit. A USD 1 billion lawsuit brought by the insurance companies defending those with vulnerable Kia and Hyundai cars is the latest move.
A judge earlier this week rejected the South Korean automakers Kia and Hyundai's need to dismiss a $1 billion automobile theft lawsuit, in a recent legal development. Judge James Selna ruled that Kia and Hyundai might have "reasonably foreseeable" that their cars would be more likely to be stolen if they did not have theft prevention technology.Manufacturers from South Korea made movement to have the action dismissed, pointing out that theft is an insurance policy default obligation. Judge Selna rejected these pleas, ruling that Kia and Hyundai had violated state consumer protection legislation, broke implicit and explicit protection, and committed fraud by omission and deception.