Can an EV be hacked? Security agency investigating risk of China weaponizing computers after US electric car ban

Security agencies have real concerns about the hackability of everyday devices and the ability of foreign powers to weaponize devices for malicious purposes.

The device tampering issue came to a head after the deadly explosion of hundreds of rogue pagers and walkie-talkies used by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah weeks ago.

In the attacks, which were claimed but not claimed to have been carried out by Israel, 37 people, including children, died and thousands of people were injured.

Western democracies have now expressed concern about the risk of China weaponizing the technology it exports around the world, from refrigerators and TVs to solar panels and electric vehicles.

The US has banned Chinese-linked technology from vehicles used in the US due to concerns about hardware and software.

Meanwhile, Australian security agencies are investigating possible risks foreign-made computers pose to the country as part of a $600 million boost to cybersecurity; $70 million of that is focused on countering foreign intervention.

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said Australia needed to “make sure we can counter remote access and potential espionage” to which a range of devices could be susceptible.

“There are computers in cars, in refrigerators, in your microwave oven, in your television. Of course, potentially they can all be accessed remotely,” Ms. Plibersek told Sunrise on Monday morning.

But Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce said if home appliances are at risk, our cars are too.

“They (external forces) can plant code, which means they then have the capacity to access that code. We need to be aware of this.”

In February 2024, US President Joe Biden described modern cars and their apps, sensors and cameras used while driving as “smartphones on wheels.”

Mr Biden said tools tied to companies with ties to the Chinese Community Party (CCP) could send “sensitive data” about citizens and infrastructure to China or be accessed and disabled.

And like any smart device, if it’s connected to the internet, it’s more susceptible to infiltration.

Electric vehicles may be particularly vulnerable because many onboard operating systems rely on the internet or compatibility with third-party applications and services.

In fact, EVs have been the target of demo hacking before.

In 2016, Chinese security researchers broke into Tesla’s Controller Area Network (CAN bus), the system that allows a car’s systems to talk to each other, and took control of the EV.

In 2022, a German IT expert hacked 25 Teslas worldwide via a third-party app and managed to unlock doors and windows, play the stereo, and start the cars’ engines.

Hackers can also use physical means to infiltrate a car: key fobs, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and memory card slots. Even EV charging cables can act as a trojan horse for hackers.

Public EV charging stations pose a particular threat because connectivity can include communication with the driver’s phone, charging management system, and payment portal, as well as cable and the car.

While hacking has proven possible, car companies are becoming increasingly quick at detecting bugs and vulnerabilities and fixing them before problems arise.

The US Department of Commerce will ban the use of Chinese-made software in new cars starting from 2026 and hardware from 2029.

However, it’s worth noting that the US has been burned before by allowing the uncontrolled proliferation of Chinese technology: the expansion of technology brand Huawei, which has allowed China unfettered access to critical telecommunications networks.

Additionally, only a small portion of vehicles sold in the United States use software and operating systems made in China; Their Chinese technology is integrated into systems produced by European and US brands.

But Australia relies much more on Chinese-made vehicles. In fact, China is Australia’s third largest source of new vehicles and largest source of EVs.

After China, Japan and Thailand, around 15 per cent of Australia’s new car market is accounted for by Chinese manufacturers BYD, MG and GWM, which are some of the fastest-growing brands on our roads.

Well-established brands such as Tesla, Volvo and BMW also supply some of their models from China.

However, Australia has banned Chinese technology in the past and blocked Huawei from accessing our 5G network due to security concerns.

While experts warn that connected cars are effectively “surveillance devices” and Australia’s Privacy Act is “outdated” and ill-suited to the technology, a ban is not a sure thing.

Cox Automotive Ausrtalia corporate affairs manager Mike Costello told news.com.au the US ban on Chinese technology in cars will make the Australian market even more lucrative for our Pacific neighbours.

He said any move to ban the technology in Australia would be costly to the government: both in its efforts to get more electric vehicles on the roads and in terms of popularity with voters, as it could push up car prices.