General Motors is asking white hat hackers to have a go at hacking its cars. It quietly began a bug bounty program last week that encourages independent hackers to report any cybersecurity flaws found in GM cars.

Currently, Tesla Motors is the only other automaker with such a program, offering hackers $100-$10,000 for reported bugs.

With all the new tech in modern cars, it is creating challenges to auto companies. The hack this past summer of a Jeep Cherokee was a warning sign for auto engineers.

Before the bug bounty, hacker Samy Kamkar found it relatively easy to deal with GM, but difficult to reach the appropriate person to report his finding. Kamkar found a major vulnerability in OnStar last summer.

A bug bounty program, even in its earliest stages, makes it much easier for white-hat hackers to disclose bugs to GM.

Source: RoadandTrack