Volkswagen inadvertently exposed personal information of 800,000 electric vehicle owners, including sensitive GPS data, due to a system misconfiguration in its software subsidiary Cariad. The breach, discovered by the ethical hacking group Chaos Computer Club (CCC), left data publicly accessible on Amazon Cloud for months and affected not only everyday citizens but also high-profile individuals. This incident highlights increasing concerns over data privacy in the automotive industry, where connected vehicles often collect and store extensive personal data. Studies reveal that many car brands excessively gather and even sell user data, with 68% experiencing security incidents or hacks in recent years. Volkswagen has yet to disclose detailed mitigation plans, underscoring the urgent need for stronger cybersecurity in the evolving landscape of connected vehicles. Continue here.
