Researchers Find Holes in Wireless Tech Used by Czech Car Maker

Trend Micro published research showing Škoda's SmartGate connected‑car Wi‑Fi uses default credentials and Wi‑Fi Direct, enabling a nearby attacker to connect to the vehicle's onboard network, read over twenty telemetry parameters and potentially lock out owners; researchers demonstrated cracking the Wi‑Fi from a moving trailing car. The report characterizes the issue primarily as a privacy risk but highlights the potential for attackers to pivot to CAN bus systems and recommends reducing Wi‑Fi TX power, changing default passwords/PINs and adding a physical wireless on/off switch.