A $10,000 bounty is being offered to anyone who can hack a Tesla Model S

It’s safe to say that the developed world has become dominated by digital technology, or at the very least, it’s getting there. While there are innumerable benefits that come with the transition from analogue to digital, there are also plenty of risks. Namely, hackers. Hackers are arguably one of the biggest threats in the Digital Age. Developers must be constantly trying to find and fix any vulnerabilities within their products to combat this threat.

As digital technology becomes more prevalent, so do hackers. It shouldn’t come as a surprise then that “hack-a-thons” and “hacking challenges” are also becoming more prevalent. Whether it’s to allow hackers to demonstrate their prowess or to unearth hidden vulnerabilities for developers to fix, hacking challenges are becoming more popular every year. However, the 2014 SyScan Conference in Beijing may be hosting the first such hacking challenge for an automobile.

The reward is $10,000. The challenge? To hack a Tesla Model S. More specifically, the hacker must be able to remotely access the 17-inch touchscreen display that dominates the Model S cabin in order to surf the Internet and access the vehicle’s controls. This seems like somewhat of a tall order considering Tesla Motors has almost certainly installed a comprehensive security system in order to prevent things like this from happening. It’s important to note, however, that hackers have already managed to gain access to some more conventional automobiles. Although, this was done under the supervision of the US military’s research division.

It will certainly be interesting to see how the Tesla Model S hold up against money-hungry hackers. Tesla itself has no part in the competition. Read more about this story here.