Earlier this month, BMW announced that it would offer some features in its vehicles on a subscription basis. The subscription service, which offers the heated seat for $ 18 per month, did not escape the radar of hackers. It turned out that some BMW owners are using the subscription features for free.
Hacking scandal at BMW paid subscription service
As of July, BMW has launched a new subscription program for luxury features. The new subscription, which is stated to have started in South Korea, makes it possible to use heated seats and some other features for extra money.
The subscription-based features offered by BMW are kept closed in the car. So all that needs to be done is software unlocking. Some hackers operating in the gray market (or dark market) have started to use this service to their advantage.
Hackers, who stated that BMW, which sells the heated seat for $ 18 per month, “cheated” its customers, began to reach vehicle owners from the gray market. hackers; It can open subscription-based features such as security camera notification, heated steering wheel, advanced driving assistant at an affordable price.
BMW, on the other hand, says that outside interventions on vehicles are completely prohibited. Stating that any repair, especially software, voids the warranty, BMW also has the right to sue the vehicle owners.
The German manufacturer also thinks that switching to a subscription system is an advantage for its customers. According to BMW, features that would not normally be found in the car and could never be tested are added when the vehicle is produced thanks to its subscription service. Vehicle owners can test the feature by enabling the trial process.
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