Dive Brief:
- Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) announced Wednesday it is launching a bug bounty program that will offer people who find vulnerabilities in its vehicles and connected services between $150 to $1,500 per bug.
- The amount of the reward will be based on the type of bug found and on how many vehicles it could potentially impact.
- FCA is the first major automaker to offer a bug bounty program, though Tesla, which focuses on electric cars, has a similar program.
Dive Insight:
Attention on vehicle security has grown dramatically following FCA's recall of 1.4 million vehicles last July after security experts proved in a controlled test they could use the internet to take control of a car as it drives. The experts used a feature in the Fiat Chrysler telematics system Uconnect to control the car.
As companies look to address evolving cybersecurity demands, bug bounties are giving them a new way to assess security risks and vulnerabilities. Companies such as Western Union, Tesla Motors and United Airlines have all conducted bug bounty programs. This year, the Pentagon conducted the first-ever federal government bug bounty program.
