What's going on?

Barely a week goes by without news of a new cyber-threat to consumers. Cars are no exception, as recently shown by Wikileaks documents claiming the US Central Intelligence Agency was working to infiltrate vehicle systems.

Look back a little further, and there are dozens of serious stories involving car hacking.

Jeep recalled more than a million cars to address a glaring cyber security flaw that allowed hackers to wirelessly take control of popular SUVs, Tesla slammed shut an open door that presented a significant threat, and Germany's ADAC motoring body showed how tech-savvy thieves use owners' electronic keys to steal cars parked hundreds of metres away. You get the idea.

Why the big deal?

Cars are becoming more connected than ever. Just about every model on sale can communicate with devices via Bluetooth, while others also talk to computers via Wi-Fi, satellites, digital radio and more.

The so-called "internet of things" vital to the future of autonomous vehicles means cars must be able to exchange information with each other, as well as infrastructure such as traffic lights.

Hackers could therefore use a car's digital vulnerabilities to access cars for theft, to eavesdrop on drivers or even seize control of vehicles with potentially disastrous consequences.

Who cares?

You should.

If your car's electronic security isn't up to scratch, then thieves could steal it without nicking your keys, jimmying open the door or messing with its wiring – and that's before you think about the potential of someone or something seizing control of the car to crash it with you inside. While that is an extreme example, computer experts have proved it is possible, and there are suggestions it has already been used to fatal effect.

Richard Clarke, former US national coordinator for security, infrastructure protection, and counter-terrorism, told the Huffington Post a fiery crash that killed controversial journalist Michael Hastings was "consistent with a car cyber attack", even if police said there was no evidence of foul play.

Say what...

Richard Clarke told the Huffington Post back in 2013 that there is reason to believe intelligence agencies already knew how to hack a car:

"What has been revealed as a result of some research at universities is that it's relatively easy to hack your way into the control system of a car, and to do such things as cause acceleration when the driver doesn't want acceleration, to throw on the brakes when the driver doesn't want the brakes on, to launch an air bag. You can do some really highly destructive things now, through hacking a car, and it's not that hard... whoever did it would probably get away with it."

Wikileaks on how the government agencies might employ car-hacking research reportedly pursued by its rumoured Embedded Devices Branch:

"The purpose of such control is not specified, but it would permit the CIA to engage in nearly undetectable assassinations."

University of Michigan researcher Sam Lauzon playing down that possibility in the Washington Post:

"The likelihood of someone driving you off the road while you're driving down the freeway is very slim. Very slim."

What next?

We haven't heard the last of this.

Many car companies are investing significant resources into cyber safety, Australian government bodies are looking into digital threats and US legislators are working on a bill to force car companies to adopt minimum standards for electronic security.

Terror groups have recently proven how easy it is to cause catastrophic damage by driving vehicles into pedestrians. It's not a great leap to think they too will be investigating the horrifying potential of vehicular cyber warfare that could weaponize cars owned and driven by innocent pedestrians.

No doubt aware of that, manufacturers are working hard to ensure that key vehicle controls are shielded from the outside world.