Hyundai Motor Co. is offering Ioniq 5 owners in the United Kingdom a £49 "optional" security upgrade to address a keyless entry vulnerability exploited by thieves using a Game Boy-like hacking device, The Verge reported Monday. The fix updates both hardware and software to prevent unauthorized unlocking and ignition without a physical key.
The vulnerability affects some Hyundai, Kia Corporation, and Genesis Motor electric vehicles, including the Kia EV6 and Genesis GV60, which have been targeted in the UK and Europe. The upgrade, Hyundai says, addresses "evolving security threats," though the automaker has not explained why customers must pay for a flaw in its own security systems.
Such devices, costing around €20,000, can crack a car's wireless protocol within seconds. Similar attacks have plagued Hyundai and Kia for years, leading to a $200 million United States settlement in 2023 over security bypass methods.