Kia, Hyundai Release Software to Stop TikTok Challenge Fueling Car Thefts

pcmag.com:

A viral TikTok challenge that’s been causing teens to steal Kia and Hyundai vehicles with a mere USB cable is prompting the carmakers to release a free software update to stop the thefts. 

The anti-theft software update will arrive for millions of Kia and Hyundai vehicles in the US, according(Opens in a new window) to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 

The software promises to address a flaw in certain Kia and Hyundai cars, which can be started without the keys using only a screwdriver and USB cable. Last year, a group of thieves known as the “Kia boys” demonstrated the flaw via TikTok videos, which spurred others to try to hijack Kia and Hyundai vehicles.  

So why the flaw? Certain Kia and Hyundai vehicles possess no immobilizer to prevent the engine from starting without the correct key. As a result, you can pull off the plastic under the cars' steering wheels and slot in(Opens in a new window) a standard USB cable to easily turn(Opens in a new window) the ignition cylinder. No data from the USB cable needs to be exchanged at all. 

Since the TikTok challenge went viral, police departments across the US have seen(Opens in a new window) an increase in car thefts targeting Kia and Hyundai cars. “Vehicle theft is up an astounding 767% due to an emerging TikTok Challenge,” the Chicago Police Department said(Opens in a new window) in August. 

The NHTSA adds that the TikTok challenge “has spread nationwide and has resulted in at least 14 reported crashes and eight fatalities.”

In response, Hyundai, which owns Kia, says(Opens in a new window) it developed a software update that can effectively lock down the car’s engine. “As a result, locking the doors with the key fob will set the factory alarm and