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AP/Press Association Images

Fiat recalls 1.4 million cars after hackers take control of a jeep over the internet

Hackers were able to change the vehicle’s speed and control the brakes.

FIAT CHRYSLER HAS decided to recall about 1.4 million cars and trucks in the US just days after two hackers revealed that they took control of a Jeep Cherokee SUV over the internet.

The company also disclosed in government documents that the hackers got into the Jeep through an electronic opening in the radio and said it would update software to close it. On Thursday, Fiat Chrysler sealed off a loophole in its internal cellular telephone network with vehicles to prevent similar attacks, the automaker said in a statement.

The vulnerability exposed by the hack rippled through the auto industry and drew the attention of government safety regulators, who on Friday opened an investigation into the Jeep incident.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it would find out which other automakers use the same radios. It came as the industry is rapidly adding Internet-connected features such as WiFi and navigation that are convenient for drivers but make the car more vulnerable to outside attacks.

“I think it’s a pretty big deal,” said James Carder, chief information security officer for LogRhythm Inc., a Boulder, Colorado, security company.

“This isn’t intellectual property going out the door, this is 1.4 million lives on the line.”

Automakers, he said, have become accustomed to testing mechanical safety, but most aren’t doing enough online security testing.

Shortly after the hack was disclosed in a Wired magazine article this week, Fiat Chrysler said it would contact owners of vehicles and offer software updates to fix the problem.

But documents show that the wider recall came at the urging of government safety regulators.

The fix came after two well-known hackers, Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek, remotely took control of the Cherokee through its UConnect entertainment system. They were able to change the vehicle’s speed and control the brakes, radio, windshield wipers, transmission and other features. They estimated 471,000 vehicles were vulnerable.

The recall affects vehicles with 8.4-inch touchscreens including 2013 to 2015 Ram pickups and chassis cabs and Dodge Viper sports cars. Also covered are 2014 and 2015 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee and Cherokee SUVs, as well as the 2015 Chrysler 200 and 300, and the Dodge Charger and Challenger.

Read: Deadly ignition switches linked to 56 deaths, brain damage and amputation

Read: More than 25,000 Renaults have been recalled because of a braking issue

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26 Comments
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    Mute Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin
    Favourite Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin
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    Mar 25th 2016, 8:30 PM

    These individuals are not fit to be guests on the Jerry Springer Show let alone hold the presidency of a country!

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    Mute Drew TheChinaman :)
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    Mar 26th 2016, 3:14 AM

    They could be Jeremy Kyle material though…

    20
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    Mute sparky
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    Mar 25th 2016, 8:34 PM

    You’d think the first thing he would be doing is filing a law suit against the article.

    137
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    Mute Tony Canning
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    Mar 25th 2016, 10:17 PM

    He probably is

    36
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    Mute Rob Kennedy
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    Mar 26th 2016, 9:23 AM

    If he doesn’t sue = guilty. Trump did his homework. Clinton is in for some abuse.

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Mar 26th 2016, 10:43 AM

    “Guilty” implies that it is illegal to cheat on your spouse. It is not.

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    Mute liam
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    Mar 26th 2016, 11:38 AM

    I hate this aspect to politics in some countries, mainly in the English speaking world. Unless you plan on marrying Ted Cruz, who cares if he cheats constantly on his wife or not? If you’re considering him as a potential political leader rather than a potential future spouse, surely it’s his policies rather than his fidelity with which you should be concerned. When Hollande’s extramarital dalliances were released in the French media, the French public rounded on the publications immediately, and insisted their president’s personal life should remain private – the yanks, and often ourselves, could learn a lot from that attitude.

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    Mute Paul Mc Manus
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    Mar 25th 2016, 9:00 PM

    Great entertainment, these lads.

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    Mute Al Ca
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    Mar 25th 2016, 8:39 PM

    Com’on Ted….don’t do the Facebook thingy, sue Trump…isn’t that the American thing to do when they make false accusations.

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    Mute Damien Kelly
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    Mar 25th 2016, 10:24 PM

    How would he sue Trump for something printed in the National Enquirer?

    54
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    Mute domas1507
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    Mar 25th 2016, 8:35 PM

    If Cruz wants to become president he should probably do what most intelligent people do and ignore whatever his name is

    50
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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Mar 25th 2016, 9:24 PM

    Any wonder more and more people are becoming disillusioned with politics.

    36
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    Mute Owen McDermott
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    Mar 25th 2016, 8:45 PM

    Trump trumps the competition!
    Brilliant.

    30
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    Mute Michael J
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    Mar 25th 2016, 9:02 PM

    Why couldn’t we have an election like that instead of the boring shite we got? People can slag Trump off but the difference between him and other politicians is that he’s telling the truth and they don’t like that.

    47
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    Mute domas1507
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    Mar 25th 2016, 9:22 PM

    Donald Trump speakes the truth? Hey generalises whole population’s to further his own agenda. He has countless failed businesses he mocks people with disabilities he counts on ignorance for support. If that’s the truth you are seeking you will die a happy man I’m sure

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    Mute Michael J
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    Mar 25th 2016, 9:50 PM

    I have absolutely no idea what your argument is.

    23
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    Mute domas1507
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    Mar 25th 2016, 10:15 PM

    Point proven I think

    60
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    Mute Damien Kelly
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    Mar 25th 2016, 10:32 PM

    Argument should be Trump does not tell the truth. In fact he will take any position if he thinks it will get him votes. He is very talented at playing to the media and at speaking to people who are disillusioned with the American political system but happy not to look past the sound bite. He plays on people’s fears and exacerbates their prejudices. Blame Muslims, blame Mexicans, blame Democrates, Obamas to blame. Easier to blame others and allude to a simple solution that will make their lives easier. Scary that people are thick enough to drink the Kool aid.

    41
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    Mute Michael J
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    Mar 25th 2016, 10:51 PM

    Maybe it’s because he actually listens to the disaffected American people and isn’t one of these leftie liberals who just tell people what to do. Latino immigrants are taking American jobs. You can’t say that. It’s racist. Mexicans are drug pushers. More racism. Muslims are shielding terrorists. That’s bigotry. Russia is the enemy of the free world. Please don’t make Putin angry. It’s this liberal rubbish that has put IS terrorists and foreign criminals in the heart of all our major European cities. Trump is someone who listens to the Americans who are saying enough is enough and his policies are going to take him all the way to the White House.

    24
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    Mute Richard Cheney
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    Mar 25th 2016, 11:05 PM

    What an odd world view you have.

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    Mute thejynxeffect
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    Mar 25th 2016, 11:22 PM

    He’s right, Trump is going to win. I look forward to an American president that won’t use a politicians filter. He touches on subjects that most would never dare. That has to be a good thing.

    24
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    Mute Damien Kelly
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    Mar 25th 2016, 11:30 PM

    “Mexicans are Drug pushers. That’s racism” – yes that statement could not possibly fit the definition of racist more perfectly. I don’t disagree though that there are issues to be dealt with – illegal immigration, terrorism etc but lets say for a second that Trump believes what he’s saying and implements his policies- build a wall to eliminate the Mexican drug pushers and rapists. Walls have worked well in Israel and Germany in the past and obviously there are no rapists or drug dealers amongst the non Latino races.. – ban Muslims from America. Hmmm what if the nasty terrorists were smart enough to lie about their religious beliefs not to mention the effect even suggesting this as a legitimate tact has on the majority of the worlds Muslims who are non radical!! – bomb the sh*t out of Isis. We’ll just wait for the stateless organisations leaders to all get together so we know where to send the jets will we?

    25
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    Mute Michael J
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    Mar 26th 2016, 12:07 AM

    You don’t disagree there are problems to be dealt with. You just don’t have the balls to actually tackle them because it might offend people. You and the rest of the liberals. It’s no surprise that right wing parties are becoming more powerful across the Western World. Politics has become polarised. You either stand up for yourself or bend over and take it.

    12
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    Mute Richard Cheney
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    Mar 26th 2016, 12:19 AM

    Well the far-right do love dragging us all into a good war every couple of decades.

    27
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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Mar 26th 2016, 1:10 AM

    Socialism is about looking out for one another, Capitalism is about becoming a fat cat at the expense of your fellow citizens. Materialism is huge at the minute, and everywhere you look people seem to be plugged into devices. I wonder what kind of species are we becoming. We will suck this planet for everything it’s worth before we move on, but maybe that’s the plan. As long as we pass on the right message.

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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Mar 26th 2016, 1:17 AM

    Materialism and bling has always been huge, people have always been saps.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Mar 26th 2016, 1:21 AM

    Love this site, pretty good at wading through the key points. Basically Trump isn’t telling the truth 3/4 of the time http://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/

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    Mute Rosie is very PC
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    Mar 26th 2016, 8:24 AM

    “Latino immigrants are taking American jobs”

    Were those jobs in the farmers fields picking crops in Alabama that the locals couldn’t do? (Notice that I didn’t type wouldn’t)

    Were those jobs in the abattoirs where the locals were demonstrating & the place ended up being raided ? Well those very same demonstrators ended up getting offered the jobs ? They didn’t last pi$$ing time .. True story.

    “Illegal immigrants pay an estimated $10.6 billion to state and local taxes in 2010, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP)..On average they pay about 6.4% of their income in state and local taxes..”
    “Undocumented immigrants contribute more in payroll taxes than they will ever consume in public benefits.”

    Trump himself uses the HB1 visa that he wants to “get rid of ” but just last month, one of his companies, the elite Mar-a-Lago Club resort in Florida, applied to import 70 foreign workers to serve as cooks, wait staff and cleaners.There was a few hundred local AMERICANS (those jobs that he wants to protect ) that applied for the jobs but were turned down ..

    Trump is a hypocrite of the highest order..

    11
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    Mute Chris Cantwell
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    Mar 25th 2016, 9:17 PM

    Can’t stump the trump

    28
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    Mute Marc Power
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    Mar 25th 2016, 11:58 PM

    Doesn’t this umpa lumpa have some chocolate to make? .

    16
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    Mute karl
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    Mar 26th 2016, 7:24 AM

    I’ve been watching the betting lads and for months hilary is the clear favorite to become the next president! She has always been about 1/3 and Trump waivers about 3/1 to 7/2 and over the years bookies rarely get it wrong… Good fun though watching those two goof balls..

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    Mute Killian Mahon
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    Mar 26th 2016, 12:35 AM

    I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

    8
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    Mute Ogie Carbery
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    Mar 26th 2016, 10:13 AM

    Stay classy America stay classy

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