A Device Hidden in Cars Across the US Leaves Them Vulnerable to Hacking and Paralysis. Patch It Now
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Security vulnerability in connected car systems with actionable patching advice, relevant to IoT and infrastructure.
UC San Diego researchers found that over 2 million vehicles in the US contain a dealer-installed aftermarket KARR Security System alarm with a severe Bluetooth vulnerability. Any attacker within Bluetooth range can silently unlock the car, disable its ignition, or track it—without the owner's knowledge, since dealers often leave the device installed after sale. Acrisure Protection Group has released a firmware update, but owners must manually download the KARR smartphone app and apply the patch; a KARR or SWDS sticker on the window identifies affected vehicles.