In an eye-opening display at Pwn2Own Automotive 2026, researchers unveiled 37 zero-day vulnerabilities affecting Tesla's infotainment system and other automotive technologies. This high-stakes hack has raised concerns about the safety of personal data in modern vehicles, leaving many to wonder about the implications for their own information. With the risks of automotive cybersecurity breaches becoming more apparent, it's crucial to understand what was exposed, whether you should be worried, and how you can protect your data moving forward.
What Data Points Were Leaked?
During the Pwn2Own Automotive 2026 event, security researchers managed to expose 37 zero-day vulnerabilities. These weren’t just theoretical flaws—they offered real-world access to Tesla’s infotainment system, a hub that connects to nearly every part of the modern driving experience.
What Was Potentially Exposed?
Let’s break down what these vulnerabilities could put at risk:
Personal Contact Details: Infotainment systems often sync with your phone, so names, numbers, and even recent call logs can be pulled.
Navigation and Location History: Your vehicle remembers where you’ve been—saved addresses, recent destinations, and even your daily routes.
Media and Communication Apps: Messages, emails, playlists, and app credentials can be stored in the car’s memory.
Vehicle Settings and Profiles: Preferences, garage codes, and user profiles tie back to you.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Data: Credentials for networks and paired devices are accessible through the system.
Why Does This Matter?
Modern cars do more than play music—they’re rolling computers loaded with sensitive data. If a hacker gains access:
Identity Risks: Details like your home address or contact list can be used for phishing or social engineering attacks.
Privacy Breaches: Your movements, routines, and communication patterns can be tracked and exploited.
Wider Access: Some vulnerabilities could let attackers leap from infotainment to more critical vehicle controls, though not all the flaws found allowed this.
The bottom line: The infotainment system holds a digital snapshot of your life. When that’s exposed, it’s not just about your music preferences—it’s your privacy, safety, and even your family’s security that could be at stake.
Should You Be Worried?
Security breaches in automotive systems aren't just headlines—they're potential threats to your privacy and peace of mind. When an infotainment system gets hacked, the fallout can reach far beyond the dashboard.
What Risks Do These Vulnerabilities Pose?
Personal Data Exposure: Modern vehicles store a surprising amount of personal data. Think contact lists, call histories, navigation destinations, and even synced messages. If hackers access your car's infotainment system, they could pull this information directly from the vehicle.
Identity Theft: Once personal data is in the wrong hands, it can be used for identity theft or social engineering attacks. Your home address, workplace, or frequently visited locations could become tools for targeted scams.
Unauthorized Vehicle Access: Some vulnerabilities go further than data theft. Hackers could potentially control certain functions of your car remotely—like unlocking doors or tracking your movements.
Likelihood of Personal Data Misuse
Automotive cybersecurity experts warn that infotainment hacks, like the Tesla system breach discussed for 2026, are more than theoretical. While large-scale attacks are still rare, the value of personal data means cybercriminals are getting bolder. Once data is stolen, it’s often sold on underground markets or used to craft personalized phishing attempts.
Everyday Impact on Users
Loss of Privacy: Everyday users may not realize how much their car knows about them until that information is compromised.
Financial Consequences: Stolen data can lead to fraudulent credit applications or unauthorized purchases.
Emotional Stress: Knowing someone else has your private details—like where you live or work—can be unsettling.
Protecting Yourself
While manufacturers are racing to patch vulnerabilities, you shouldn’t wait for them to catch up. Adopting privacy-first habits—such as regularly deleting synced data from your car and using strong, unique passwords for connected apps—makes a difference.
Cloaked can help, too. Its privacy tools let you create masked emails, phone numbers, and credentials. This means even if your car’s infotainment system is compromised, your real contact details stay out of hackers’ hands. That extra layer of protection can limit how much personal information is ever exposed.
Staying informed and proactive is your best defense. The risks are real, but you don’t have to be an easy target.
What Should Be Your Next Steps?
No one expects to wake up and find out their car—or their personal data—has been part of a breach. But here’s the reality: when automotive hacks happen, you have to move fast and smart. If your information is caught up in an automotive cybersecurity breach, don’t panic. Take these clear, actionable steps to tighten your defenses.
Step 1: Change Your Passwords and PINs
Update passwords for all accounts linked to your car or the breached service (think connected apps, infotainment logins, dealership portals).
Use strong, unique passwords—never reuse passwords across accounts.
Consider a reputable password manager to generate and store complex credentials.
Step 2: Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Wherever possible, activate MFA on all accounts tied to your vehicle and personal data. This adds an extra layer that makes unauthorized access much harder.
MFA typically involves a text, email, or authentication app code in addition to your password.
Step 3: Monitor Your Accounts and Devices
Keep an eye out for unusual activity on financial, automotive, and email accounts. Look for login alerts, password change requests, or purchases you didn’t make.
Set up account alerts if your provider offers them.
Step 4: Update Vehicle and App Software
Check for updates on your car’s software or mobile apps connected to your vehicle. Manufacturers regularly release security patches.
If you’re unsure, contact your dealership or check the automaker’s website for guidance.
Step 5: Limit Shared Data
Review what data your car and related apps collect and share. Disable unnecessary sharing in your app or vehicle settings.
Remove old accounts or connections you no longer use.
Step 6: Freeze Your Credit (If Sensitive Data Is Exposed)
If the breach involved your driver’s license, SSN, or other sensitive details, consider freezing your credit with major bureaus. This blocks new accounts from being opened in your name.
Step 7: Stay Informed
Sign up for security alerts from your automaker and trusted cybersecurity sources.
Regularly review guidance from organizations like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on automotive cybersecurity.
Avoid public Wi-Fi for app updates or data syncing.
Never share your vehicle’s VIN, telematics ID, or access codes on social media or with unknown parties.
Be wary of phishing: Hackers often use fake messages about “urgent vehicle recalls” to steal your info.
How Cloaked Can Help
Cloaked gives you tools to limit what personal information is shared with third parties. With features like masked emails, phone numbers, and credit card numbers, you can interact with car services, dealerships, or apps while keeping your real details private. If your data is part of a breach, changing your masked info through Cloaked is quick—much safer than scrambling to update your real details everywhere.
A breach doesn’t mean you’re powerless. Swift, focused action makes all the difference when your data is at stake.
Cloaked FAQs Accordion
Frequently Asked Questions
First, change your passwords—especially if you've reused them across sites. Then enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all key accounts. Review your account and credit activity regularly for any unusual behavior. If suspicious actions surface, consider freezing your credit and alerting your bank. To proactively reduce exposure in the future, tools like Cloaked can mask your personal information before breaches happen.
Cloaked provides you with disposable emails, phone numbers, and payment details, making it harder for bad actors to access your real identity. These tools help you safely sign up for services, communicate, and shop online without putting your core identity at risk.
Commonly targeted data includes full names, email addresses, phone numbers, birthdates, physical addresses, login credentials, and payment info. Tools like Cloaked help shield this information by providing secure, masked alternatives.
Always be skeptical. Malicious links are one of the most common ways hackers infect devices or steal data. Avoid clicking unless you can verify the source. Services like Cloaked can add layers of security so your real contact info isn’t exposed even if you make a mistake.
Using the same contact info across platforms makes it easy for attackers to build a full profile of you. If one platform gets breached, all your accounts can be at risk. That’s why Cloaked allows you to use different, secure contact methods for each service.
At Cloaked, we believe the best way to protect your personal information is to keep it private before it ever gets out. That’s why we help you remove your data from people-search sites that expose your home address, phone number, SSN, and other personal details. And to keep your info private going forward, Cloaked lets you create unique, secure emails and phone numbers with one click - so you sign up for new experiences without giving away your real info. With Cloaked, your privacy isn’t a setting - it’s the default. Take back control of your personal data with thousands of Cloaked users.
*Disclaimer: You agree not to use any aspect of the Cloaked Services for FCRA purposes.
