The increasingly sophisticated systems running a car may lead to new vulnerabilities, according to a study from security software provider McAfee in partnership with mobile software provider Wind River and embedded security provider Escrypt. Those systems could allow hackers to take control of the car, track its location, and even access devices that are connected to it, including smartphones and tablets carrying valuable personal data.

The study highlights examples of test cases where security experts from universities around the country were able to shut down cars by hacking into a remote disabling system, use a tire's radio frequency identification system--designed to monitor the tire pressure--to track the location and activity of a driver, disrupt emergency assistance and navigation services, and hack into the critical safety system of a car. Another study used a Bluetooth connection to steal personal data.