Updated! Harman radios are being examined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in the wake of the Fiat Chrysler recall last week.
Harman supplied the radios in 1.4 million Fiat Chrysler vehicles that were recalled for being vulnerable to attack by hackers.
When a driver used the Internet connection on the Harman radios, hackers could gain remote control of the engine, steering and other systems. Fiat Chrysler has since developed a software fix for the problem.
NHTSA wants to determine if Harman radios supplied to other car companies are also vulnerable to attack in its investigation, launched last week.
A spokesman for Harman told CEoutlook Monday morning that the security breach was unique to the Chrysler infotainment systems. “Harman is one of several suppliers that make up the infotainment solution for Chrysler. We have communicated to our other OEMs – and NHTSA – that the system that was hacked is unique to Chrysler. Of course, we will continue to cooperate with NHTSA and respond to any questions they may have.”
He continued, “This issue underscores the importance of cyber security in the car, which has been a priority for HARMAN and an area we’ve been investing in for some time. HARMAN offers several security solutions to its OEM customers, including a multi-layer cyber security framework that mitigates vulnerabilities, including secure Over-The-Air updating.”
Cybersecurity risks in connected car radios extend beyond Harman. A security vulnerability in OnStar systems was uncovered last week.
