Owners of certain Hyundai and Kia models are being urged to take special precautions to protect their vehicles from a spate of thefts after a challenge emerged on social media TikTok.
While TikTok has already seen some fun challenges emerge, some are far more dangerous, if not illegal. We had already seen two girls aged 8 and 9 die after having participated in the “blackout challenge”, which consisted of choking until they passed out in front of the camera, or the “Devious Lick”, which invited users to steal any object in his school.
A new illegal challenge has recently appeared on the platform, the “Kia Challenge”. The latter shows users of the social network how steal certain Kia and Hyundai models by simply removing the plastic cover located under the steering column and using a USB cable.
Kia and Hyundai car thefts are on the rise due to TikTok
This trend exploded last year in Milwaukee, with Kia models made in 2011 or later, and Hyundais made in 2015 or later, apparently the prime targets. Thieves would use USB cables or screwdrivers to start the car, after removing the steering column. A USB cable can likely be used to turn the ignition key, start the vehicle and release the steering lock. The Hyundai or Kia can then move forward and be restarted at any time using the same cable.
Thieves then take the stolen cars on high-speed rides to make their TikTok videos more interesting. These show wild swerving and completely crazy driving, which has already cost the lives of several thieves and pedestrians.
Fortunately, not all Kias suffer from the same security flaw. Apparently, newer 2022 models feature new anti-theft technology that is supposed to prevent such incidents, but Pennsylvania police are warning people who own older models to keep an eye on their vehicle as the challenge has gone viral. TikTok tries somehow to strengthen the detection of dangerous challenges, but not all of them are detected in time.