Tesla Model S hacked in security contest

The Tesla Model S is essentially a computer on wheels, and as such, it has become the target of a hacking contest at the SyScan 360 security conference in Beijing. One of the contestants, Qihoo 360 Technology Co. apparently succeeded and were able to take over several of the car’s systems. While the car was in motion, the car’s locks, horn, headlights and skylight were all remotely operated by the contestants.

Tesla Motors’ CEO Elon Musk responded by saying he would investigate and take immediate action to repair any legitimate vulnerabilities. ” The company which completed the hack stated that  they were offering to work with Tesla to resolve the issues. As of yet there are no details on exactly how the hack was completed.

While Tesla is not associated with the conference and is not a sponsor of the competition, we support the idea of providing an environment in which responsible security researchers can help identify potential vulnerabilities,” commented the car manufacturer. “We hope that the security researchers will act responsibly and in good faith.”