Hackers and manufacturers are at war over vehicle security, according to Australia’s National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council.

In the US a high-profile hack on a Jeep Cherokee’s control systems led to a recall of 1.4 million vehicles, and this was followed by a demonstration of a Chevrolet Corvette being stopped in its tracks by a text message.

Such attacks often involve complicated trial-and-error programming by experts with unrestricted access to their target vehicle, but the council says this is no reason for complacency.

“Vehicle security is now an arms race, with each new generation of security being scrutinised for potential weaknesses as soon as it is released,” it says.

“This will only accelerate as the connected car quickly becomes a reality.”

Police in NSW and Victoria
have arrested at least two organised crime groups that used pre-programmed devices
to steal Toyota SUVs and four-wheel-drives.

In both states the stolen vehicles were dismantled and exported.

Despite these concerns, less glamorous tactics remain a far bigger issue.

“While high-tech theft methods steal the limelight, the reality is that more than 70% of all theft is via the very low-tech method of simply stealing the owner’s keys,” the council says.