Hacked Jeep Cherokee exposes weak underbelly of high-tech cars

Washington

THE Jeep Cherokee brought to a halt by hackers last month exposed wireless networks as the weakest link in high-tech vehicles, underscoring the need to find fast over-the-air fixes to block malicious intrusions.

Features that buyers now expect in most modern automobiles, such as driving directions and restaurant guides, count on a constant connection to a telecommunications network. But that link also makes cars vulnerable to security invasions like those that threaten computers in homes and businesses.