After media blitz – awareness of car hacking high, survey says

The threat of car hacking has reached car owners and shoppers, and almost 80% saying it will be a frequent problem within the next three years or less, according to an all-new survey by Kelley Blue Book.  Awareness of the recent Jeep Cherokee hacking incident is very high, and nearly half of respondents said they will keep this event in mind when buying or leasing their next car. After the Jeep Cherokee hack, the next most suspected brand is GM at 47%. The majority of consumers do not think there will ever be a permanent solution to the problem of vehicle hacking.

Karl Brauer, senior analyst for Kelley Blue Book, said, “If automotive engineers find themselves playing catch-up in this field, it could have disastrous results for both consumers and the industry…Consumers also are highly skeptical that a comprehensive solution to prevent vehicle hacking can ever be developed, though an overwhelming majority would be willing to pay for hack-proof vehicle security if it existed.”

The Hacking Vulnerability Survey Showed the following:

• 72% said they are aware of the recent Jeep Cherokee hacking incident.
• 41% said they will consider this recent vehicle hacking incident when buying/leasing their next car.
• 78% said vehicle hacking will be a frequent problem in the next three years or less.
• 33% classified vehicle hacking as a “serious” problem; 35 percent classified it as a “moderate” problem.
• 58% do not think there will ever be a permanent solution to vehicle hacking.
• 4% think pranking is the most common reason for hacking a vehicle; 37% think theft is the most common reason for hacking a vehicle.

Who’s Responsible?

The vast majority of respondents view vehicle manufacturers as most responsible to secure a vehicle from hacking, and most would prefer to get a security patch installed in-person at a dealership right away.

• 81% think the vehicle manufacturer is most responsible to secure a vehicle from hacking; only 11% consider themselves most responsible to secure a vehicle from hacking, and 5% see it as the responsibility of their wireless provider.
• 64% would prefer to go into a dealership to get a vehicle’s security patch installed; only 24% would prefer to do it wirelessly, and a mere 12% would prefer to have the software mailed so they could install it themselves.
• 47% said they would go to a dealership “immediately” if they knew they had to install a security patch to protect their vehicle from hacking; 31% said “within a week,” and 17% said “within a month.”
• 44% would prefer to be notified via mail, and 41% would prefer to be notified via e-mail, in the event their vehicle was recalled.  Only 11% preferred notification via a phone call, and 5% preferred text.
• 52% indicated they would be willing to pay for a monthly subscription to ensure that their vehicle would be completely protected from hacking, with $8 being the average respondents would be willing to pay each month.

Perception of Automakers Most Susceptible to Vehicle Hacking:

Kelley Blue Book fielded the Vehicle Hacking Vulnerability Survey from July 24 – 27, 2015, and the survey had 1,134 respondents.  Surveys were completed by members of Kelley Blue Book’s Blue Ribbon Panel, an exclusive online community for vehicle owners and shoppers who are invited to share opinions that provide valuable and timely insights.