Hyundai has introduced a new and free anti-theft software upgrade in the U.S.A to prevent its vehicles from being stolen.

The move comes after incidents of thefts of Hyundai and Kia vehicles rose across the nation, as a viral challenge spread on TikTok, demonstrating how cars from both brands could be easily stolen by hot wiring the vehicle simply with a USB cable. The security lapse is said to only affect vehicles without push-button ignitions and immobilising anti-theft devices.

The software upgrade will be launched as a service campaign for a total of almost four million vehicles in the U.S.A. Hyundai states that with the new update, the vehicle control modules on its vehicles with turn-key ignition system will be updated so that locking the doors with the key fob will set the factory alarm and activate an 'ignition kill' feature. This change, the firm states, will mean its vehicles will no longer be able to be started as per the popularised videos.

Vehicles that head to its dealers will additionally be affixed with window decals to alert would-be thieves that the car has been equipped with enhanced anti-theft technology.