Remember when all you had to worry about with your car is getting an oil change every 3,000 miles . Today ’ s connected cars are miles ahead technologically speaking of those “ dumb ” vehicles , but drivers could see a bumpy ride if thieves get a hold of the data the car possesses . The Internet of Things ( IoT ) has created an entirely new market in the automotive industry with connected car services that are driving new recurring revenue growth and transforming the industry . And that trajectory is expected to continue , growing from $ 13.6 to top $ 42 billion by 2022 . Vehicles contain critical personal information such as personal contacts , registration and insurance details , financial information and even the address to the owner 's home – making entry , theft and further damage even more of a possibility . Vehicles have become an extension of one ’ s connected self and the technology associated with them offers substantial benefits . With the emergence of sophisticated technology , the nature of vehicle theft has changed . A major adversary of today ’ s vehicle owner is a smarter , connected and more targeted network of criminals , known as ‘ Connected Vehicle Thieves ’ . LoJack , provider of vehicle theft recovery and advanced fleet management solutions , shows how these New Age thieves can take advantage of the technology in vehicles . Vehicle-enabled ransom Attack.Ransom : One growing and increasingly lucrative type of cybercrime is the use of ransomware , where inserted malware encrypts digital data and instructs a victim to pay Attack.Ransom the criminal a ransom Attack.Ransom to restore the decrypted information . With the emergence of the connected car and vehicles being used as WiFi hot spots , vehicle-enabled ransomware is a predictable next step for hackers , exploiting this new avenue to commit digital “kidnapping” Attack.Ransom . For example , in the near future , they could easily break into a vehicle , disable the engine and brakes , and demand bitcoin Attack.Ransom to restore the car to its functional state . Scanner boxes as smart keys : Thieves have begun carrying scanner boxes , or devices that can exploit the electronic system utilized by key fobs . These criminals can then unlock , and even start , a vehicle without even touching the key . Once the key comes in close enough range to the scanner box and is compromised . Data leading to identity theft : These days , connected cars carry more information and personal data than ever before , making identity theft a more serious threat . Thieves are targeting your vehicle , but also the data within it , which could lead to credit card details , location information , Social Security numbers , and personal IDs like drivers ’ licenses . Once this information is obtained Attack.Databreach , it ’ s possible for a hacker to access any of your online accounts .