These car hackers don’t represent an isolated incident, according to U.S.-based insurance-industry group car theft-tracking group National Insurance Crime Bureau. “We think it is becoming the new way of stealing cars,” said Roger Morris, Vice President of the Bureau, “The public, law enforcement and the manufacturers need to be aware.” The laptop computers are likely being used to hack the cars’ electronic ignitions, though one officer in Houston’s auto antitheft unit told The Wall Street Journal that they couldn’t be sure, saying, “We don’t know what he is exactly doing with the laptop, but my guess is he is tapping into the car’s computer and marrying it with a key he may already have with him so he can start the car.” Further information about the car hackers in question is provided at the WSJ: While internet users have long been warned about the dangers of car hackers attacking the newest innovation in cars, the self-driving vehicle, it’s important to remember that the old-school type are still vulnerable, too. ‘We still haven’t received any tips,’ the officer said.”
