Tesla touts environmental friendliness and savings on gas costs as two of the big perks of its electric cars. But security may turn out to be a winning feature as well.
In the last few weeks, a worrying trend has emerged in which hackers have found ways to hijack control of vehicles’ onboard computers. In July, hackers were able to remotely access a Jeep Cherokee SUV through its on-board entertainment system, taking control of its steering, transmission and brakes. This week, researchers executed a similar hack into the Tesla Model S’s infotainment system; they were able to shut off the vehicle’s engine with a keystroke (the Tesla attack required physical access to the vehicle).
But the big difference between these scenarios is what happened next. Fiat Chrysler had to recall 1.4 million Jeeps that could potentially be vulnerable to the hack, but the “recall” actually amounted to mailing Jeep owners a USB stick that they could plug into their vehicle’s dashboard port in order to give the car the necessary patch. Tesla, on the other hand, was able to automatically send a patch to all its Model S vehicles on Wednesday through an over-the-air update, a method more akin to how your smartphone gets software fixes.
The advantage for Tesla here is obvious. There’s no telling how many people will actually bother plugging in Jeep’s USB stick, but it probably won’t be 1.4 million. In the Model S, drivers just click “yes” to an on-screen prompt offering a software upgrade with the fix.
As automakers race to make their vehicles behave more like smartphones, they’ll have to deal with the security risks that come along with connecting to the Internet. Tesla is a step ahead with its ability to widely distribute updates with the press of a button. But other companies are sure to follow suit quickly. Everyone from Ford to General Motors is working to bring robust over-the-air updates to their cars in the coming years.
The 15 Most Bizarre Moments From the Consumer Electronics Show
![APTOPIX Gadget Show Samsung A brand ambassador tests Samsung's Gear VR headset at the Samsung Galaxy booth at the International CES on Jan. 6, 2015, in Las Vegas.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/25-ces-strange-moments-2015.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas Frank Lee, Brand Marketing for LG Electronics MobileComm USA, demonstrates the enhanced selfie feature on the new LG G Flex 2 mobile phone on press day for the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas on Jan. 5, 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/20-ces-strange-moments-2015.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![US-LIFESTYLE- IT-ELECTRONICS-CES Attendees lay on Serta mattresses at the Serta stand on Jan. 6, 2015 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/26-ces-strange-moments-2015.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Joe Clayton, CEO of Dish, arrives on stage banging a bass drum followed by company mascots during the Dish news conference at the International Consumer Electronics show (CES) in Las Vegas Joe Clayton, CEO of Dish, arrives on stage banging a bass drum followed by company mascots during the Dish news conference at the International Consumer Electronics show (CES) in Las Vegas on Jan. 5, 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/19-ces-strange-moments-2015.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![US-LAS VEGAS-CES-CARS A transparent TRW model car is seen during the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas on Jan. 6, 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/15-ces-strange-moments-2015.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![CES 2015 At the 'Unveiled-event' a young woman has a look at salad at the CES electronics and consumer technology tradeshow in Las Vegas on Jan. 4, 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/14-ces-strange-moments-2015.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![CES 2015 The drone'Nano' from 'Zano' on Jan. 8, 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/16-ces-strange-moments-2015.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas Attendees interact with wity screens that run on Intel's Realsense technology on Jan. 6, 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/22-ces-strange-moments-2015.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas An attendee wears Altspace Virtual Reality head ware on Jan. 6, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/21-ces-strange-moments-2015.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Newest Innovations In Consumer Technology On Display At 2015 International CES Sony Electronics President and COO Mike Fasulo displays the Sony 4K Action Cam at a press event on Jan. 5, 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/24-ces-strange-moments-2015.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Newest Innovations In Consumer Technology On Display At 2015 International CES Consumer Electronics Association President and CEO Gary Shapiro exits a Mercedes-Benz F 015 autonomous driving automobile after it was unveiled at a Mercedes-Benz press event on Jan. 5, 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/ces-20151.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![A display shows Panasonic's virtual make-up mirror at a Panasonic news conference during the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas A display shows Panasonic's virtual make-up mirror at a Panasonic news conference on Jan. 5 , 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/18-ces-strange-moments-2015.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas Selfie sticks of the company 'Noosy' displayed on Jan. 8, 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/23-ces-strange-moments-2015.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![US-LIFESTYLE-IT-ELECTRONICS-CES World freediving champion Stig Severinsen holds his breathe underwater for a total of 5 minutes, 35 secs to demonstrate the functionality and accuracy of the Masimo SET pulse oximetry device on Jan. 8, 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/27-ces-strange-moments-2015.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Workers install an advertisement for a new S'UHD TV from Samsung Electronics on the side of the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas Workers install an advertisement for a new S'UHD TV from Samsung Electronics on the side of the Las Vegas Convention Center on Jan. 4, 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/17-ces-strange-moments-2015.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
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