Senator Markey urges NHTSA to protect consumers from the cybersecurity risks posed by internet-connected cars referencing Consumer Watchdog's Kill Switch report. 

"Automakers have acknowledged the dangers of interconnected cars to their investors and shareholders but they have not disclosed those same cyber risks to the public at large," said Senator Markey citing the Kill Switch report. 

The Kill Switch report from Consumer Watchdog says cars with internet connectivity are vulnerable to hacking and outside interference with crucial systems including brakes and steering. A 50 cent kill switch could address the problem and sever the car's essential safety systems from the internet. "The security in these cars is no better than a smart phone," says Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court, "and that's not good enough. The danger is these connections can be hacked and when the connection can be hacked, the car can be hacked and someone can take control of the car." 

Car suppliers – like Harman International – and major automakers are spending more than they ever have on securing vehicles. But a Consumer Watchdog study says safety concerns related to connected cars are only increasing. Others in the auto industry say those fears may be overblown.

United States Senators Ed Markey and Richard Blumenthal have written to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to ask if carmakers have reported the cybersecurity vulnerabilities in their Internet-connected cars and what steps NHTSA is taking to address the problem.

More and more cars are connected to the internet and are therefore vulnerable to dangerous hacking interfering with the engine, brakes and other critical safety systems. Hackers could access entire fleets of connected cars leading to catastrophic injury and fatalities. Manufacturers are aware of the problem and have done nothing to resolve this potentially catastrophic vulnerability. A 50 cent kill switch would allow the driver to disconnect safety systems from the internet,  preventing malicious interference. 

Consumer Watchdog has issued a report, with the help of car industry technologists, that finds all the top 2020 cars have Internet connections to safety critical systems that leave them vulnerable to fleet wide hacks. 

The group and experts warn that a fleet wide hack at rush-hour could result in a 9-11 scale catastrophe with approximately 3,000 deaths.  

Developed with the help of car industry technologists, the "Kill Switch" report from Consumer Watchdog finds all the top 2020 cars have Internet connections to safety critical systems that leave them vulnerable to fleet wide hacks.

The experts warn that a fleet wide hack at rush-hour could result in a 9-11 scale catastrophe with approximately 3,000 deaths. 

The report recommends cars come with a 50 cent "kill switch" that can disconnect the safety critical systems from the Internet.

Cars connected to the internet can be hacked, allowing for outside interference with the car's brakes, engine and other crucial systems. Consumer Watchdog's report 'Kill Switch' advocates for a safety mechanism to be put into all connected cars that allows drivers to disconnect the car's essential functional systems from the internet. 

Consumer Watchdog's new Kill Switch report warns that there is a serious risk of hacking with cars connected to the internet. Hackers are able to access the entire network of cars and interfere with the engine, brakes and other crucial aspects of the car. These hacks could lead to thousands of fatalities and must be addressed by manufacturers who are aware of the problem but have done nothing about it. 

Consumer Watchdog's new report called 'Kill Switch' shows that 2020 cars with internet connections are vulnerable to potentially catastrophic hacking. Millions of cars could be hacked leading to interference with crucial safety systems including the brakes and engine that could cause thousands of fatalities and injuries.