With an official title of “Hacker Princess” on her Apple business card, Paget was presumably working on security projects during her two-year tenure at the computer company, though full details remain unclear.
The security specialist starts her new post at Tesla on Monday, according to a Re/code report. “Can’t say too much but ‘securing things’ is a fair bet :),” she added on Twitter.
Tesla’s vehicles rely heavily on technology, fetching over-the-air software updates that can remotely make changes to the electronic management systems. Like other established automakers, the startup has remained tight-lipped about the potential security vulnerabilities of its vehicles.
Recent reports have highlighted several potential threats, such as a CAN-bus hacking tool that enables remote control over many computer-controlled functions. Depending on the level of computer integration in an individual vehicle model, the tool could be used to control steering, brakes or airbag deployment, among other functions.
Current hacks appear to be limited to proof-of-concept demonstrations, though researchers have called on automakers to prioritize security in upcoming vehicles to avoid eventual exploitation by attackers.
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