The New Cyberattack Threatening Electric Vehicle Drivers

Today, with the advancement of new technologies, the likelihood of experiencing some form of cyberattack has increased. The internet and smart devices have made many daily tasks easier, but they have also opened the door to new forms of scams and fraud. One sector that has not been spared from these dangers is electric vehicles. With their growing popularity, cybercriminals have found a new way to access our personal data through a cyberattack affecting numerous drivers in various countries worldwide.

Due to the rise of such cyberattacks, the cybersecurity company 'Eset' has warned of a new scam targeting electric car drivers: 'quishing'. This term refers to a scam where cybercriminals manipulate QR codes to redirect users to fraudulent pages with the aim of stealing their personal and banking data.

According to reports from the UK, France, and Germany, fraudsters are exploiting public charging stations to deploy this tactic. How do they do it? By covering legitimate QR codes with fake ones. These codes are typically present at charging stations for drivers to scan and access the operator's payment system. However, if a user scans a malicious code, instead of being directed to the official platform, they end up on a fraudulent page that asks them to enter their payment details.

This method is particularly dangerous because QR codes do not allow users to identify the URL's destination before scanning them. In this way, criminals manage to deceive drivers without them suspecting they are being scammed.

Cybersecurity experts have pointed out several precautions that electric vehicle drivers can take to reduce the risk of falling victim to a 'quishing' attack at charging stations.

If a driver suspects they have entered their details on a fraudulent page, they must act immediately. The first step is to block the payment card to prevent criminals from making unauthorized charges. Additionally, it is crucial to inform the bank or card issuer about the situation so they can take necessary measures and prevent potential financial losses.

Finally, it is recommended to report the incident to the authorities so they can investigate and, as far as possible, prevent other drivers from falling victim to the same scam.