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Jeep hack sparks recall

July 24, 2015

Italian-American automaker Fiat Chrysler has recalled around 1.4 million vehicles in order to install software updates to prevent the cars and trucks from being hacked via their Internet-connected radios.

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New York Stock Exchange - Fiat Chrysler 13.10.2014
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/Richard Drew

Just days ago, computer hackers took control of a Jeep Cherokee as it drove along a highway in the US state of Missouri, turning on the A/C, blasting the radio and, most dangerously, shutting off the engine.

Now, the company that makes the vehicle, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, has announced a recall of 1.4 million cars and trucks with radios installed which make them vulnerable to interference from cyber attackers.

On Friday, the American arm of Fiat Chrysler said it was unaware of any remote breaches into its cars and trucks' computer systems other than the one that was the focus of a recent Wired magazine story.

"The recall aligns with an ongoing software distribution that insulates connected vehicles from remote manipulation, which, if unauthorized, constitutes criminal actions," the company said.

Yesterday, Fiat Chrysler said it had already sent a software update, a so-called "patch," to customers' Jeep Cherokees and other vehicles to prevent any future hacking.

cjc/sri (AFP, dpa, Reuters, AP)