A cyberattack on Intoxalock, a U.S. vehicle breathalyzer company, has left drivers across the United States stranded and unable to start their vehicles.
On March 14, the firm experienced downtime following the attack, which involves breathalyzers fitted into ignition switches for mandatory alcohol testing before driving. Rachael Larson, spokesperson for Intoxalock, confirmed to TechCrunch that the company had been hit by a cyberattack and took precautionary steps.
Calibration of these devices is necessary every few months; however, due to the attack, Intoxalock cannot perform these calibrations, causing delays in vehicle starts for affected drivers. Reddit posts from frustrated users indicate that missing a calibration can lead to cars being locked out, effectively trapping drivers inside their vehicles.
Local news reports highlight issues in Maine and Massachusetts, with one auto shop in Middleboro telling WCVB 5 in Boston that it has seen multiple cars unable to start since the cyberattack. The firm’s technology is used in 46 states, serving approximately 150,000 drivers annually.
Intoxalock declined to specify the type of attack or whether any ransom demands were made, nor did they provide an estimated timeline for recovery from this significant disruption.
