Photo: Tesla
Teslas are among the least stolen vehicles, thanks to safety and remote access features. Still, intrepid criminals have found ways to circumvent these measures by disabling the GPS tracking devices inside the cars. With the Model 3 Highland, thieves' jobs are much easier now.
A recent Consumer Reports study found that Tesla EVs are among the vehicles with the lowest theft frequency. And this is not because they are unattractive, as some Tesla critics might suggest, but because stealing a Tesla is too complicated to be worth the risk. The thieves' jobs are already more challenging thanks to the Sentry Mode recording everything around the car. This comes on top of one of the safest software on the planet. For those who are still worried that their Tesla might get stolen, a nifty feature called "PIN to Drive" prevents the car from moving unless the correct code is entered.
Even if someone is daring (or fool) enough to steal a Tesla, the owner and the carmaker can track the vehicle remotely, thanks to a GPS tracking device embedded into the car. This raises the chances that a stolen Tesla can be recovered. Tesla can also blacklist it, so it's of no value to a potential buyer. But that doesn't mean a Tesla is impossible to steal, or thieves don't steal Teslas. Only last month, police took down a Tesla theft ring in Portland, OR, which used an ingenious method to steal the cars.
The thieves disabled the tracking device in the Teslas to make them impossible to track. This is not impossible, and it's the first thing thieves try to do when dealing with a Tesla. It's not quite straightforward, though, as the communication module is embedded in the infotainment system. After disabling the module, they can take the stolen car to a place where it is usually torn apart to be sold for parts. However sad this is, that's the way things go. It's much easier to sell parts of a Tesla that are difficult to trace than the vehicle as a whole.
With the Model 3 Highland, Tesla might have inadvertently made the thieves' jobs much easier. Instead of integrating the GSM modem on the infotainment PCB as before, Tesla opted for a separate terrestrial communication module (TCM) installed into the headliner. From there, it's connected to the infotainment system through a gigabit ethernet (Broadreach) connection. The cable is much easier to access than the communications module in previous Tesla models, so this will be a boon for car thieves.
The information has been revealed by ethical hacker Green (@greentheonly), who tore apart the infotainment system of the Model 3 Highland. It's unclear why Tesla chose this solution, but it's probably a cost-cutting measure. The separate daughterboard is also easier to replace if the technology changes, which happened when 3G networks shut down a year ago.
Even if someone is daring (or fool) enough to steal a Tesla, the owner and the carmaker can track the vehicle remotely, thanks to a GPS tracking device embedded into the car. This raises the chances that a stolen Tesla can be recovered. Tesla can also blacklist it, so it's of no value to a potential buyer. But that doesn't mean a Tesla is impossible to steal, or thieves don't steal Teslas. Only last month, police took down a Tesla theft ring in Portland, OR, which used an ingenious method to steal the cars.
The thieves disabled the tracking device in the Teslas to make them impossible to track. This is not impossible, and it's the first thing thieves try to do when dealing with a Tesla. It's not quite straightforward, though, as the communication module is embedded in the infotainment system. After disabling the module, they can take the stolen car to a place where it is usually torn apart to be sold for parts. However sad this is, that's the way things go. It's much easier to sell parts of a Tesla that are difficult to trace than the vehicle as a whole.
With the Model 3 Highland, Tesla might have inadvertently made the thieves' jobs much easier. Instead of integrating the GSM modem on the infotainment PCB as before, Tesla opted for a separate terrestrial communication module (TCM) installed into the headliner. From there, it's connected to the infotainment system through a gigabit ethernet (Broadreach) connection. The cable is much easier to access than the communications module in previous Tesla models, so this will be a boon for car thieves.
The information has been revealed by ethical hacker Green (@greentheonly), who tore apart the infotainment system of the Model 3 Highland. It's unclear why Tesla chose this solution, but it's probably a cost-cutting measure. The separate daughterboard is also easier to replace if the technology changes, which happened when 3G networks shut down a year ago.
the weird usb3 connector on board was replaced by a full blown usb-c with lock mechanism not unlike mini-USB used for USB2 ports.
— green (@greentheonly) November 7, 2023
They also (for now?) switched back to the old gateway chips.
Also still 8GB non-ECC RAM pic.twitter.com/n0ffM6EaFn
Google News