--- title: "Hacker Claims to Have Seized Control of Teslas Around the World" description: "David Colombo, a 19-year-old IT specialist, claims to have uncovered a software vulnerability that allows him to take control of 25 Teslas around the world." date: "2022-01-12" modified: "2022-01-12" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/hacker-control-teslas" categories: - "Advanced Transport" - "Tesla" tags: - "cybersecurity" - "tesla" - "the digest" --- # Hacker Claims to Have Seized Control of Teslas Around the World ![David Colombo, a 19-year-old IT specialist, claims to have uncovered a software vulnerability that allows him to take control of 25 Teslas around the world.]() *\Image: Tesla/Futurism\* ## Assuming Control A teen hacker named David Colombo claims to have uncovered a software vulnerability that allowed him to take control of numerous Tesla vehicles around the world. The researcher [tweeted]() earlier this week that he gained "full remote control of over 20 Teslas in ten countries and there seems to be no way to find the owners and report it to them." Tesla neither confirmed nor denied the hack [to *Bloomberg*](), but Colombo told the publication that he was in touch with the carmaker about the security flaw. Colombo was quick to clarify in a [followup tweet]() that "this is not a vulnerability in Tesla's infrastructure. It's the owners faults." ## Remote Start Colombo says he figured out how to disable Sentry Mode, a security feature that uses the vehicle's many cameras to keep an eye out for intruders, as well as opening the doors and windows. He also claimed he was able to start Keyless Driving. "Yes, I potentially could unlock the doors and start driving the affected Teslas," he [wrote in a tweet](). But taking them for a longer ride, fortunately, seemed to be impossible. "No I cannot intervene with someone driving (other than starting music at max volume or flashing lights) and I also cannot drive these Teslas remotely," he wrote. Tesla is on the case, according to Colombo, and will issue an update. Hopefully we'll learn more about the vulnerability soon. "This will be described more in detail in my writeup," he told *Bloomberg*. "But glad to see Tesla taking action now." **READ MORE:** [Teen Hacker Claims Ability to Control 25 Teslas Worldwide]() \[*Bloomberg*\] **More on Tesla:** *[Tesla FSD Appears to Ask Drivers Whether It Should Break the Law]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()