According to Forbes, Hyundai AutoEver America suffered a data breach between February 22 and March 2, 2024, where hackers had nine days of unauthorized access to their systems. The breach exposed Social Security numbers, driver’s license information, and full names of potentially 2.7 million customers across Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis vehicles in North America. The company discovered the intrusion on March 1 but took over seven months to notify affected individuals. This represents Hyundai’s third major security incident in three years, following breaches in Europe in 2024 and Italy/France operations in 2023.
Hyundai’s Security Problem
Here’s the thing: this isn’t just a one-off incident. Hyundai keeps getting hit, and that pattern suggests something’s fundamentally wrong with their security approach. When you’re dealing with industrial-scale operations and manufacturing data systems, you need enterprise-grade protection. Basically, they’re treating cybersecurity like an afterthought rather than building it into their core infrastructure from the ground up.
And that’s concerning because modern vehicles are essentially rolling computers. They’re collecting everything from your driving habits to your home address to your financial information. When hackers breach the systems managing this data, they’re not just getting your Social Security number—they’re getting a complete profile of your life. It’s like someone breaking into your phone versus stealing your wallet. The difference in data exposure is massive.
What You Should Do
If you own a Hyundai, Kia, or Genesis vehicle, you need to act now. Check your credit reports immediately at AnnualCreditReport.com and monitor your bank statements weekly. The company is offering two years of free credit monitoring, but you only have 90 days to enroll if you receive a notification letter.
Honestly? Everyone should consider credit freezes with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion regardless of whether they were affected. It’s the single most effective way to prevent identity thieves from opening new accounts in your name. And watch out for phishing scams—Hyundai will never ask for your Social Security number or payment information via email.
The Bigger Picture
So why does this keep happening to automakers? They’re caught between customer demand for connected features and the security risks those features create. Every remote start function, every navigation update, every over-the-air software patch creates another potential vulnerability. And when you centralize data for millions of vehicles, you become a very attractive target for hackers.
The uncomfortable truth is that you can switch banks or doctors if they have security issues. But if you bought a Hyundai three years ago, you’re stuck with their security practices until you sell the car. Your data sits in their systems whether you like it or not. And identity theft involving Social Security numbers can create problems that take years to resolve—unlike credit card fraud where banks typically cover the losses.
Hyundai says they’re investing in “additional security enhancements,” but given this is their third major breach in three years, maybe they need more than enhancements. Maybe they need to completely rethink how they secure customer data. Because right now, it seems like they’re just putting bandaids on a problem that requires major surgery.
