AUTO

Your Car Knows Too Much: The VW Data Leak That Left 800,000 Owners Exposed

December 30, 2024

800,000 VW Group EV owners’ data exposed online
Geolocation data accurate within inches for some vehicles
Chaos Computer Club alerted VW to the breach

Have you ever wondered how much your car really knows about you? Turns out, if you drive a Volkswagen electric vehicle, the answer might be “way too much.” And worse yet, that information might not have been as private as you thought.

A recent data leak exposed sensitive personal data and vehicle information for 800,000 EV owners, leaving everything from precise geolocation to email addresses dangling on the internet like a ripe fruit for cybercriminals.

This is not some fringe story about a minor oversight. The investigation by Spiegel revealed that private data, including driving patterns, GPS locations, and contact details, was left unprotected for months, making it accessible to anyone who knew where to look. Speigel says, “Even bored teenagers could have found it.” Let that sink in.

What Went Wrong?

Volkswagen Group’s connected car app, created by its CARIAD subsidiary, is designed to make driving more convenient. You can remotely start the car, check battery updates, and control the climate.

However, the app also gathers data on your driving habits, which CARIAD says is “pseudonymized” and used to improve EV battery performance. While this approach is meant to keep the data anonymous, weak cybersecurity measures left this information vulnerable, turning pseudonymized data into poorly protected data.

The problem began with weak cloud storage security. Sensitive information was left unencrypted, and file names were so predictable that accessing them required minimal effort. This included log-in details for an Amazon cloud storage system.

The leaked data revealed precise geolocation, accurate to within four inches for VW and Seat vehicles and within six miles for Audi and Škoda models. For 460,000 owners, the level of detail in the breach became deeply concerning.

Who Was Affected?

While the leak primarily impacted EV owners in Germany, vehicles from other European countries and beyond were also involved. The list of affected brands reads like a who’s-who of the VW family: Audi, Seat, Škoda, and Volkswagen.

And it wasn’t just everyday drivers. Among the exposed data were details for Hamburg police patrol vehicles, intelligence officers’ cars, and, yes, even vehicles owned by politicians.

CARIAD insists that “besides the Chaos Computer Club [CCC], no evidence of misuse of data by third parties has been found.” But let’s be honest, this is small comfort when you consider how easily the information could have been exploited. If you’ve ever used the phrase “it could’ve been worse” to describe a situation, this might be the textbook example.

Why Does This Keep Happening?

This is not the first data breach, and it will not be the last. As more everyday devices become connected, from smart refrigerators to cars that track your location, cybersecurity continues to lag behind. Do we really need our vehicles collecting and storing so much personal information? And if they do, automakers should be held to stricter standards to ensure that data is safe.

This is not just a Volkswagen problem. It’s an industry-wide issue. But as one of the largest automakers in the world, VW has a responsibility to set an example, or at the very least, avoid the kind of gaping security flaws that make hackers salivate.

What Can You Do?

If you’re feeling helpless, you’re not alone. But there are essential steps you can take to protect yourself:

Minimize Data Sharing: If your vehicle’s app allows you to disable location tracking or data sharing, do it. Yes, you might lose a bit of convenience, but it’s a small price to pay for privacy.
Use Strong Passwords: If you’re using apps that connect to your car, make sure your account credentials are as secure as possible. Avoid using the same password across multiple platforms.
Stay Updated: Keep an eye on software updates for your vehicle and its connected apps. Automakers often release patches to address vulnerabilities.
Be Skeptical: Ask yourself whether you really need every “smart” feature your car offers. Is remote start worth the risk of exposing your personal data?
Demand Better: Automakers won’t prioritize cybersecurity unless consumers demand it. Make noise. Raise questions. Expect better.

As more vehicles rely on connected technology, breaches like this highlight the risks involved. Modern conveniences bring benefits, but they can also leave personal data exposed. A Spiegel investigator compared this situation to leaving a vault wide open while hoping no one would take a look. Automakers must prioritize protecting consumer data and treat it as a non-negotiable responsibility.