Ross: What to do now that we can no longer trust our cars

Little by little, cars are achieving consciousness. Limited steering is part of cruise control now on some models, and of course there’s Tesla’s hands-off mode.

But what worries auto engineers most is cyber-carjacking.

I think we all understand that the prospect of taking over internet-dependent cars will be very tempting to hackers looking for something to do between elections.

So, over the weekend, the New York Times ran a piece headlined “Carmakers Strive to Stay Ahead of Hackers.” It assured us that cybersecurity is being built into the very DNA of vehicle control systems.

Even the United Nations now has a cybersecurity regulation.

And yet, to quote one of the experts in the article: “It’s just a matter of time before a major hack happens.”

As for the most secure vehicle? That would be a Model T Ford, “because it’s not connected to anything.”

Which is why I was surprised that nowhere in the article was there any mention of the one thing I would want in an internet-connected vehicle: a mandatory kill switch.

I’m glad the engineers are determined to make internet cars hack-proof, but just as the flight captain can turn off the autopilot, if my car steers left when I want to go right, I want to be able to say no.

Maybe it’s generational. I grew up with a clutch, a stick shift, and a choke. I still sometimes forget the cruise control is on and wonder why the car isn’t slowing down.

But if the internet can make me swear over and over that “I Am Not A Robot” so that it can trust me, I want to be able to disconnect the internet from my car should the day come when I do not trust IT.

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