Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
The Kia Boys challenge that started on TikTok nearly two years ago put a target on the back of nearly every Hyundai or Kia model, whether it was vulnerable to the hack or not. Owners tried to protect their cars with both convenient and inconvenient methods, starting with steering wheel locks and ending with removing the front and rear badges.
A disgruntled Kia owner from Federal Way, Washington, took the matter to a whole new level. The man was so frustrated with the car that he decided to dump it at the dealer and walk home.
It all started two years ago when the TikTok challenge became viral. Since then, the vehicle has been involved in four incidents, with the most recent happening a few weeks ago. Behrouz Alimoradi says someone stole his car, but fortunately, the police found it fast. The recovered Kia was parked in front of the man's house when someone walked next to it and broke all windows.
"I'm tired," the man says after all these incidents. The TikTok challenge made his car a target for teenagers hungry for Internet fame and thieves who take them to chop shops.
Alimoradi decided to drive the car back to the dealership, where he purchased the Kia a few years ago. He parked it in the dealer's parking lot and walked about four hours home.
"I don't want it," he explains, though it's unclear if the dealership will take the car back. The local media contacted the dealer, but the staff wouldn't comment on the case.
Meanwhile, the Kia Boys madness doesn't end despite Hyundai and Kia releasing an anti-theft software update. While patched vehicles can no longer be stolen, the Kia Boys don't necessarily care enough to check whether a car has the software update. The carmakers give away stickers to patched vehicle owners, so a thief would be able to determine if the car can be stolen with the TikTok hack by simply scanning its windows.
The last few cases demonstrated that teens who believe that stealing cars is fun ignore all signs they wouldn't be able to drive away, sometimes breaking the windows of vehicles with a steering wheel lock in place.
Hyundai and Kia urge everybody to patch their vehicles, explaining that the update is effective and blocks thieves from starting the engine. Owners of models not eligible for the update are reimbursed for steering wheel locks. Police also recommend owners to install vehicle tracking technology in their cars, including AirTags. With such devices, they can provide the police with location information, accelerating the recovery process. However, most stolen Hyundai and Kias are typically damaged, totaled, and abandoned a few hours after the thieves drive away.
It all started two years ago when the TikTok challenge became viral. Since then, the vehicle has been involved in four incidents, with the most recent happening a few weeks ago. Behrouz Alimoradi says someone stole his car, but fortunately, the police found it fast. The recovered Kia was parked in front of the man's house when someone walked next to it and broke all windows.
"I'm tired," the man says after all these incidents. The TikTok challenge made his car a target for teenagers hungry for Internet fame and thieves who take them to chop shops.
Alimoradi decided to drive the car back to the dealership, where he purchased the Kia a few years ago. He parked it in the dealer's parking lot and walked about four hours home.
"I don't want it," he explains, though it's unclear if the dealership will take the car back. The local media contacted the dealer, but the staff wouldn't comment on the case.
Meanwhile, the Kia Boys madness doesn't end despite Hyundai and Kia releasing an anti-theft software update. While patched vehicles can no longer be stolen, the Kia Boys don't necessarily care enough to check whether a car has the software update. The carmakers give away stickers to patched vehicle owners, so a thief would be able to determine if the car can be stolen with the TikTok hack by simply scanning its windows.
The last few cases demonstrated that teens who believe that stealing cars is fun ignore all signs they wouldn't be able to drive away, sometimes breaking the windows of vehicles with a steering wheel lock in place.
Hyundai and Kia urge everybody to patch their vehicles, explaining that the update is effective and blocks thieves from starting the engine. Owners of models not eligible for the update are reimbursed for steering wheel locks. Police also recommend owners to install vehicle tracking technology in their cars, including AirTags. With such devices, they can provide the police with location information, accelerating the recovery process. However, most stolen Hyundai and Kias are typically damaged, totaled, and abandoned a few hours after the thieves drive away.
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