A BYD Shark 6 Hack Shows the Risks of Connected Cars
Researcher remotely hacked a BYD Shark 6, controlling lights, wipers and doors and eavesdropping via cabin microphone, exposing connected-car security gaps.
During a two-week test for ABC's Four Corners, Fortify Labs researcher Dan Hreszczuk found an unpassworded entry point into the BYD Shark 6's software and demonstrated remote control of door locks, headlights, wipers and the infotainment system while a reporter drove. He also tracked the vehicle's location in real time, activated the cabin microphone, and used a recorded 'Hey Siri' clip played through the speakers to make the driver's phone reveal a banking password, birth date and contacts. Brakes and cameras were protected by stronger security controls and resisted access. The report criticizes Australia's lack of minimum cybersecurity standards for connected cars and raises surveillance concerns over Chinese-made EVs.