Over-the-air (OTA) updates for cars are often lauded as a sign of the future, yet plenty of people worry they are creating a new safety concern of their own. Practically all new cars sold today are connected to the internet, and cybersecurity experts don’t love that. What happens if bad actors compromise those systems? It’s a good question, but for now, the answer is considerably more nuanced than “hackers could take over your car while you’re driving.”

 

The technology has become one of the industry’s largest shifts over the last decade. Once largely a Tesla calling card, it lets manufacturers squash bugs, sharpen features, and pile on new functions without anyone setting foot in a dealership. It also hands automakers a fast way to patch security holes, which matters more than the convenience does.