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Author's Note: Are modern cars vulnerable to hackers?

If you haven't experienced it yet, know that being a victim of high-tech crime is no picnic. I got an inconvenient reminder of this fact when a fraudster hacked my debit card -- the very week I wrote this article!

Thieves and thugs will always find ways to take things they did not work for, whether those ill-gotten gains happen to be digital dollars or electronically "protected" cars. The most astonishing thing for me in writing this piece was learning just how vulnerable modern automobiles are to high-tech attack. As much as I love car gadgetry, I'd have to think twice about using my car as an integrated, cloud-connected "hub" for my digital life -- an objective many car companies and suppliers seem to be pushing toward. Researchers have already demonstrated the potential, if not yet the real-world threat, of vehicular mischief through on-board computers. I guess it's worrying news for drivers, but a great development for PC antivirus companies looking to expand!

That said, I think the same advice applies as always: Enjoy the convenience that technology provides, but go in aware of the risks and how you can reduce your vulnerability.

Sources

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