Cybersecurity
Your vehicle contains many components that can send and receive information. They are connected to different networks to make navigation, communication, and online services, such as Car-Net, possible.
- Onboard Diagnostic port
- Control units with integrated eSIM card
- Volkswagen Car-Net control unit
- Mobile phone interface
- Media control
- App-Connect
- WiFi hotspot
- Bluetooth connection
- USB port
- SD card slot
- SIM card slot
These are key components equipped with cybersecurity measures that help prevent unauthorized and unlawful access to vehicle systems. However, no vehicle or system is absolutely immune from illegal or unauthorized access and misuse, particularly as cybersecurity risks evolve over time.
Therefore, you may be contacted by Volkswagen or an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility regarding the need to update software to help prevent unauthorized and unlawful access to vehicle systems. It is important that you as the vehicle owner or lessee keep your contact information up-to-date so that you can be notified.
- Frequently change passwords using combinations of letters, numbers, and symbols that are hard to guess.
- Have the vehicle serviced, repaired, and maintained only by a qualified workshop. Volkswagen recommends using an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility for this purpose.
- Never connect any devices that do not come from known and trusted sources to the Onboard Diagnostic II port on your vehicle. This port is required by law and is used by authorized technicians to get information about the performance of your vehicle’s emissions controls. Attaching other devices can cause malicious software to be directly introduced into the vehicle and its systems.
- Only connect media (USB flash and other drives, electronic devices, SD and other memory cards, etc.) from known and trusted sources to your vehicle to help prevent malicious software from being introduced into your vehicle.
- Always make sure that only apps from known and trusted sources are installed on smartphones and other devices that are connected to your vehicle or that are to be installed into vehicle systems.
WARNING
The introduction of malicious software into the vehicle and its systems can impair safety-related vehicle functions and cause loss of vehicle control, a crash, and serious personal injury or death, as well as potential data loss. To help minimize the potential risk of security breaches:
- Never connect – or allow others to connect – electronic devices or media such as USB flash drives to the vehicle unless you are sure that they come from known and trusted sources.
- If you believe that your vehicle or its systems may be infected by malicious software, see an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility right away.
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