cybersecurity
A recent Automotive News article detailed a cybersecurity incident involving CarGurus in which a hacking group exposed more than 1.7 million corporate records, along with over 400,000 customer email addresses, phone numbers and physical addresses in a separate CarMax-related data breach incident. According to reporting, the CarGurus data breach may include dealership account information and … Read more
If 2024 was the year of AI curiosity and 2025 was the year of experimentation, many industry observers believe 2026 may become the first true operations year for dealerships using AI. Conversations across the industry point to full AI integration moving from “nice to have” to “strategic priority.” And it makes sense. Dealerships using AI … Read more
Buying a dealership is exciting. New rooftops. New markets. New revenue opportunities. But from a dealership cybersecurity perspective, it’s also one of the most vulnerable moments in your organization’s lifecycle. Cybercriminals know it. And they plan around it. When a dealership acquires another store, leadership attention shifts to contracts, financing, staffing, and system integration. Meanwhile, … Read more
In Cybersecurity tools getting boost from AI, Automotive News reports that as thousands of dealers prepare for the upcoming NADA Show in Las Vegas, cybersecurity is firmly top of mind—driven by growing regulatory pressure under the FTC Safeguards Rule and the rapidly increasing sophistication of cyber threats facing dealerships. The article highlights how artificial intelligence is … Read more
Changing DMS. Rolling out a new CRM. Migrating email, networks, or core business systems. From a business perspective, these are all good problems to have. They signal growth, modernization, and an investment in efficiency. But there’s a less exciting side effect that often doesn’t get enough attention: Major technology changes quietly increase cybersecurity risk. Not … Read more
For years, dealership cybersecurity has lived in a familiar place: a checklist. ✔️ MFA? ✔️ Antivirus? ✔️ Security policy? Boxes checked. Everyone feels better. Back to selling cars and trucks. But the latest Mercedes-Benz USA Cyber Security Guidelines for Dealers make one thing very clear: that era is over A Not-So-Subtle Message from the OEMs … Read more
There’s no longer any debate: cybersecurity is a dealership survival issue. According to The State of Dealership Cybersecurity 2025, published by CDK Global, 90% of dealership leaders say cybersecurity is very or extremely important. Dealers get it. You feel the urgency. But here’s the uncomfortable truth the report reveals — awareness isn’t the same as … Read more
The shock of the 2024 CDK ransomware attack may be fading, but its impact is still shaping dealership cybersecurity. Frozen titles, dead sales systems, handwritten forms, and millions in lost revenue reminded everyone just how dependent dealerships are on their DMS—and how quickly operations collapse when cybercriminals find a way in. Here’s how to build … Read more
A recent Automotive News article titled “AI for good battles AI used in dealership cybercrime” (Nov. 26, 2025) highlights a stark reality for today’s auto and truck dealers: the cybersecurity threat landscape is evolving too quickly for in-house IT teams to manage alone. And few people have been sounding that alarm longer than Erik Nachbahr, … Read more