Kia has once again come under the spotlight after a major security breach exposed the personal information of millions of customers around the world. Kia has been involved in numerous scandals over the past quarter of a century, but this has undoubtedly been the one that has drawn the most attention, because there are few things that are as important to us on the Internet today as our personal data. A recent report has detected that a security breach has leaked license plates, personal data and even bank credentials of millions of customers. Could your Kia be at risk? What could happen? We’ll tell you all about it below.
What happened to Kia?
Of course, the automotive company Kia is not at its best, and its reputation has once again been put in jeopardy by a new scandal, this time, regarding the leak of its customers’ data.
It all happened on the brand’s official website. According to researchers, the attackers were able to easily access information on the vehicles they have manufactured and delivered since 2013, exposing all kinds of sensitive (and confidential) information about users, from names to phone numbers and financial details of their transactions. A real horror if we take into account that we don’t know what they are going to use that data for.
How did cybercriminals steal data?
Sam Curry, a renowned cybersecurity analyst, explained that the vulnerability that KIA showed was so obvious that hackers could have added themselves as authorized users of the vehicles, with the ability to:
- Start or stop engines remotely
- Activate alarms and unlock doors
- Locate affected vehicles in real time
Luckily, Kia managed to contain the breach before a massive attack occurred, but the reputational damage is already done and the fear that it could happen again and be more serious is also there.
How would that have been possible?
All they needed to do was add a vehicle’s license plate and in less than 30 seconds they could unlock the remote, honk the horn and find its location. Ironically, they could have stolen any vehicle and caused various accidents and worse, all because of cybersecurity flaws.
Was anyone harmed?
No, luckily, nothing “bad” happened and no customer was harmed by this incident because KIA was quick to act, but the great cunning of the criminals with the scarce security resources that KIA showed could have compromised the security of any user.
Was it just a mistake by KIA?
No, KIA is not the only one that has faced various digital security problems because more and more data is being exposed on the network, and even Ferrari and Porsche have been involved in hacking attempts, so, fortunately or unfortunately, it has not been just a KIA thing, which makes it clear that companies will have to make a good investment in cybersecurity from now on.
Did KIA recommend anything to protect us?
KIA assured that they had corrected the flaw and reinforced all security protocols, but, if in doubt… it is best to implement extra protection measures, so, if you are a KIA owner, it is best to change your password for the official KIA application. You can also check that there have been no strange movements in your bank account, and if there are, please go to your nearest bank and to an office to report it.
Once again, the debate on cybersecurity in the automotive industry is on the table. Is it worth exposing our data just for a bit of technology? And above all, why have companies not worked harder and better to protect their customers? There is an urgent need for digital security systems to improve so that this does not happen again.