We always knew this day would come. And now, it’s been proven: Cars are susceptible to malware.

Teams at the UCSD and the University of Washington have managed to hack into an unspecified 2009 vehicle using a trojan virus hidden in an Mp3 disc inserted into the audio deck. The virus allegedly altered the car stereo’s firmware creating an entry point to other components of the vehicle.

The researchers were then able to gather information such as GPS data and the Vehicle Identification Number – and were even able to control the locks, brakes and engine remotely.

The hack isn’t likely to be taken advantage of on a large scale given that different models of stereos and cars have specialized firmware.

But the implications are huge: Now that people know it can be done, I’ll be surprised if they don’t do it.

[via Boing Boing]

(Photo: Even technology needs it, a Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike (2.0) image from pnglife’s photostream)