BMW security flaw reminds us of the dangers of “smart cars”

The benefits of of merging our automobile with modern technology are innumerable, but there are some pitfalls. One of these issues recently struck BMW, Mini, and Rolls Royce vehicles models that came equipped with BMW’s ConnectedDrive technology. While the company has since fixed the problem, more than two million car owners were exposed to potential break-ins due to this flaw. 

German automaker BMW says it has fixed a security flaw that made 2.2 million of its vehicles vulnerable to break-ins. The company says the problem affected BMW, Mini and Rolls Royce models equipped with its ConnectedDrive technology, which allows drivers to access certain car functions with a smartphone. German automobile club ADAC, which discovered the flaw last summer, says hackers could have used a fake cellphone base station to intercept network traffic from the car and lower the windows or open the doors. There are no reports such a break-in ever took place. BMW spokeswoman Silke Brigl said Friday that hackers wouldn’t have been able to start or stop the engine. Brigl said the problem has been fixed with an automatic update and customers don’t need to take any action.