Hyundai and Kia update the alarm due to a TikTok challenge

Hyundai e Come on they’re releasing free software updates for millions of cars – and there’s a reason why Challenge di TikTok. In fact, a challenge on social media would have led to a wave of car thefts to participate in the challenge launched by the “Come on Boyz“.

Hyundai and Kia, wave of thefts due to a TikTok challenge

The “Kia Challenge” saw hundreds of participants on the American TikTok. But this is not a TikTok-Dance or a skill challenge. The “Kia Boyz” have in fact posted a video where they explained step by step how to get around the security systems of Hyundai and Kia vehicles produced from 2015 to 2019, using little more than a USB cable.

Hundreds of people followed these instructions to steal hundreds of vehicles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, these thefts have resulted at least 14 accidents, which even led to eight victims: this is not a fun challenge, at all.

The thefts are reportedly relatively simple to pull off because many 2015-2019 Hyundai and Kia vehicles They don’t have electronic immobilizers – so it’s simple to get in and bypass the ignition. Something similar to what happens for other manufacturers on cars registered in this period, although it seems that the method for bypassing the ignition is different depending on the car manufacturer.

An urgent update

Hyundai and subsidiary Kia offer to update the anti-theft alarm software, extending the duration of the alarm from 30 seconds to one minute. Also, you will need a key to turn on the vehicle. Without the keys to unlock the vehicle doors, a feature “ignition suspension” will prevent the cars of the two brands from activating.

A solution that should block the method used by the “Kia Boyz” to steal cars. Something necessary, considering the number of thefts. There hasn’t been an official tally, but stats from individual US cities reported by The Verge provide an idea of ​​how trending the challenge was. In Milwaukee, 469 Kias and 426 Hyundais were stolen in 2020 – the following year, 3,557 Kia and 3,406 Hyundai.

KIA EV6 6

Circa 3.8 million Hyundai and 4.5 million Kia can get free software upgrade, a total of 8.3 million cars. Just take their cars to a local dealership, where the technicians will install the updates in less than an hour – at least in the United States, where the challenge has become rampant.

From social networks to the streets

This isn’t the first time that the challenges on TikTok have harmful effects in the reality world (although it’s the first time someone has stolen Kia and Hyundai cars by following a tutorial on social media). From using drugs for challenges to putting coins in sockets to burn them, they sometimes present dangerous challenges especially for those who can’t predict the consequences.

On the other hand, often the challenges dbecome an opportunity to share fun moments, without anyone taking any risks. And in this case, it seems hard to think that it was seeing him on social media that gave someone the idea to become a car thief. Rather, he has ssimplified access to a technique for bypassing car security. So much so that two major automakers had to rush to upgrade 8 million vehicles.