The Mongols. The Bandidos. The Outlaws. Hells Angels. These are some of the most notorious motorcycle gangs out there. And now it’s time to add “The Hooligans” to the list. When this Tijuana-based biker club wants to steal a car, they don’t just pull out a “Slim Jim” – they take a more technical approach. According to a recent SC Magazine article, The Hooligans hacked into and stole 150 Jeep Wranglers.
A DOJ press release reported that the gang would target a Jeep, find its vehicle identification number (VIN), then access a registered key database to grab codes for creating a new key to fit with the programmed computer chip linked to the car’s computer system. This method of hijacking allowed the bad guys to disable the Jeep’s alarm, get away unnoticed and transport the stolen rides across the border.
For a time, this stealthy operation left authorities clueless, but it wasn’t long before surveillance footage revealed “three men stealing a vehicle using a key and handheld electronic device to start the engine,” ultimately helping authorities uncover a digital paper trail that helped them crack the case.
This incident is yet another example of how prevalent cybercrime has become, and how just about anyone can learn to hack. Read the full article at SC Magazine, and learn more about car hacking from WatchGuard, CTO, Corey Nachreiner here.