Ethical Hacking News
Hyundai is charging £49 for a security upgrade to its luxury car locks to prevent thieves from bypassing them. The move comes as car thefts using unauthorized electronic devices become increasingly common, with some reports suggesting that these devices are worth thousands of pounds.
Hyundai is charging £49 for an optional security upgrade to address car thefts using unauthorized electronic devices. The upgrade is available to Ioniq 5 owners who are vulnerable to these types of thefts, but the company has not specified its contribution towards the cost. Critics argue that Hyundai's approach may be seen as an attempt to make money from a problem it could have addressed for free. The security upgrade aims to render vehicles "fit for purpose" once again and is thought to be based on industry standards.
Hyundai, the South Korean automobile manufacturer, has recently taken a rather...unconventional approach to addressing a growing concern among its UK customers: the theft of cars equipped with certain luxury car locks. In an effort to prevent thieves from bypassing these locks, Hyundai is now charging £49 for a security upgrade, which it claims will render the vehicle "fit for purpose" once again.
According to The Register, a British technology news website, this decision has been met with a healthy dose of skepticism by many in the automotive and cybersecurity communities. While Hyundai's decision may seem somewhat counterintuitive, it is worth considering the context behind the company's actions.
The issue at hand arises from a widespread problem affecting various electric vehicle (EV) owners in the UK, particularly those driving cars equipped with certain luxury brands such as Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Genesis. In recent years, there has been an increase in reports of car thefts using unauthorized electronic devices that can bypass vehicle locking systems. These devices are thought to have originated from a Bulgarian company called SOS Autokeys, which was reportedly used by hackers to create the aforementioned devices.
One such device, known as a Game Boy-like gizmo, was described by West Yorkshire Police as being worth around £20,000 ($27,000) and was reportedly used in several car thefts over the past few years. In 2021, police arrested a gang of thieves who were using this type of device to steal cars. The devices played a significant role in these thefts, allowing criminals to unlock and drive away with vehicles in under a minute.
In light of this growing concern, Hyundai has taken steps to address the issue by offering its customers an optional security upgrade for £49. This update is said to be available to Ioniq 5 owners who are part of the small group of people vulnerable to these types of thefts. While it may seem somewhat surprising that Hyundai is charging customers for this upgrade, it is worth noting that the company has stated that all vehicles produced by Hyundai are developed and certified in accordance with industry standards.
However, there appears to be some confusion regarding the cost of the security upgrade. According to Hyundai's website update, the company will cover part of the cost, but the exact figure is not specified. When contacted by The Register, Hyundai's UK publicity team failed to provide a clear answer to this question or any further information about the upgrade.
It is worth noting that this decision has been met with criticism from some quarters, who argue that such an approach may be seen as an attempt by Hyundai to make money from a problem that it could have potentially addressed for free. This criticism is not entirely unfounded, given that similar devices have been in use for much longer and were once relatively expensive.
In conclusion, while Hyundai's decision to charge £49 for its security upgrade may seem somewhat unexpected at first glance, it does represent a pragmatic approach to addressing a growing problem in the automotive industry. However, further clarification is needed regarding the specifics of this program, including the extent of Hyundai's contribution and the exact nature of the security upgrade itself.
The fact remains that car thefts using unauthorized electronic devices are becoming increasingly common, and companies such as Hyundai must take proactive steps to address these issues. While some may view this decision as a way for Hyundai to make money from its customers' problems, it is also worth considering the role that industry-wide cooperation and regulation can play in mitigating such risks.
Ultimately, it will be important to monitor Hyundai's response to this issue and the broader context in which it arises. By doing so, we may gain a better understanding of the complex interplay between technology, security, and economic factors at play in the automotive industry.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Hyundais-Luxury-Lockdown-A-49-Solution-to-a-Slightly-More-Expensive-Problem-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/08/12/hyundai_want_secure_locks_on/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/cybersecurity/hyundai-want-cyber-secure-car-locks-that-ll-be-49-please/ar-AA1KnmWz
https://www.hyundainews.com/en-us/releases/4027
Published: Tue Aug 12 07:46:43 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
