In Australia, cybersecurity specialist Dan Hreszczuk demonstrated that he could remotely control several features of a BYD Shark 6 pickup during a security test. The test was intended to examine what could be accessed remotely on the vehicle, and Hreszczuk said he found a weakness after about two weeks of analysis.
The access he used reportedly did not require a password. From the vehicle’s digital systems, he was able to lock its doors, play audio at high volume and display images on the entertainment screen. While someone else was driving, he also activated the wipers at maximum speed, sprayed the windscreen and switched the lights on and off. He said he could not access key vehicle functions such as the brakes or cameras.
The report places the demonstration amid wider Australian concerns about data and connected vehicles. It notes that ASIO has advised ministers and public servants against sensitive conversations inside cars or connecting work devices, while Australia has no blanket ban on Chinese EVs. Trade Minister Don Farrell owns a Shark 6, the same model used in the test. The article also says modern electric and hybrid vehicles rely increasingly on software and generate substantial amounts of sensor and camera data.