CEO Elon Musk recently confirmed that users leveraging on the iOS app for their Tesla vehicles would soon feel more secure because of an upcoming feature. According to Musk, the U.S. electric vehicle maker would soon introduce a two-factor authentication to its iOS app in the future. Through this upcoming feature, Tesla would become a more secure remote-controllable car for its owner.
Tesla's Upcoming iOS App Security Feature
In a recent exchange of tweets with a follower, Tesla CEO Elon Musk was apologetic. Last Friday, a follower was inquiring about the company's initiative to introduce a two-factor authentication to the app. The CEO said that while it is 'embarrassingly late," the feature is on its way.
The two-factor authentication through SMS or an authenticator app is into the 'final validation' stage at the moment, Musk confirmed. Unfortunately, Musk was vague whether he is referring to the U.S. electric vehicle maker's own process or to those connected with the App Store. The two-factor authentication is also known as two-step verification.
It combines the password of the account with the owner's smartphone, for instance. This is one of the recently used ways to verify that the account holder is the real car owner and not a hacker. Several websites do this by sending SMS to the owner's registered smartphone device to confirm his identity.
Elon, say something about the two factor authentication man ... is it happening? Last year it depended on some IT system overhaul ... — Cybergrade (@vicentes) August 14, 2020
Tesla Mobile App
For the uninitiated, the Tesla mobile app offers users a slew of details and control for the Tesla vehicle. Using the Tesla app, users could send media, change the climate control remotely, interact with navigation, locate the tesla vehicle in a car park and track the recharging progress. Aside from those, Tesla owners could do more advanced functions with their cars using the app.
This includes locking and unlocking the car, honking the horn, flashing the lights and even calling the vehicle from a parking space. In some Tesla models, the app serves as a key when within the Bluetooth's range. With the two-factor authentication anticipated to arrive soon, it would help users secure their accounts.
This way, Tesla owners could avoid getting their cars hijacked by attackers who could install the app in their own mobile device and steal users' passwords. While Musk did not reveal the specific arrival date of the said two-factor authentication of the tesla mobile app, it could happen soon.
