Most people think of hacking as something that happens to computers or phones. But in 2015, security researchers showed the world something far more alarming: a car could be hacked while it was driving on the highway.
The test wasn’t just about stolen data or a broken screen. It was about control. Imagine driving at highway speed and suddenly losing power over your own car. That’s exactly what happened to a Jeep Cherokee during this groundbreaking security demonstration.
What Happened During the Jeep Hack
The researchers started small. They played with the vents, blasted the radio, and even turned on the windshield wipers. Harmless enough—at first. But then they went further. They reached deep into the car’s internal systems and sent commands to the transmission and brakes. The driver suddenly couldn’t accelerate. The car slowed to a crawl with a truck looming dangerously close behind. It was no longer a harmless trick—it was a real safety threat.