---
author: "Eric Priezkalns"
published: "2011-08-23T05:00:11+00:00"
modified: "2015-02-16T21:46:57+00:00"
title: "Send Text, Take Car"
permalink: "https://commsrisk.com/send-text-take-car/"
---

# Send Text, Take Car

Can you steal a car with an SMS message? Apparently so…

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="259" loading="lazy" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bNDv00SGb6w" width="420"></iframe>

You can read the Associated Press’ version of this security story [here](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TEC_AUTO_THEFT_BY_TEXTING?SITE=WIJAN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT).

Of course, this security weakness is the fault of the car manufacturer and the super-clever hi-tech systems they install in their cars. However, would you like to be the person in the contact centre, receiving a call from an irate customer saying the telco is at fault for not blocking the criminal’s text message? The old saying “don’t shoot the messenger” applies here, but if glitches like these are not addressed, then chances are that some telcos will be caught in the firing line.