Don Bailey and Matthew Solnik used an Android phone and a technique they have dubbed ‘war texting’, to exploit two unnamed remote control products that allowed them to lock and unlock cars remotely.
“I could care less if I could unlock a car door. It’s cool. It’s sexy,” Bailey told CNN. “But the same system is used to control phone, power, traffic systems. I think that’s the real threat.”
Neither of the men would go into detail about the hack or say which makes or vehicles were most vulnerable. However General Motors, BMW and Mercedes-Benz all offer similar cellphone apps that allow the owners to unlock and turn on the engines.
