Can ETC be hacked?

[VonNoah]

ETC in vehicles can be hacked, but it is generally safe for normal use, though there is a possibility of theft. Here are some relevant details about ETC: 1. ETC Overview: ETC stands for Electronic Toll Collection, also known as Automatic Road Toll System. It is a specialized road tolling method primarily used on highways, toll bridges or tunnels, and certain urban road sections to alleviate traffic congestion. 2. Precautions: Maintain a distance of at least 10 meters from the vehicle ahead to prevent the system from mistakenly charging for the preceding vehicle. 3. Reasons for Failed Deductions: When using a debit card linked to ETC, insufficient balance may cause deduction failures. The ETC lane recognition speed is set at 20 km/h—if the vehicle exceeds this speed, the system may fail to read the vehicle's device information, resulting in a failed charge.

[EzraLee]

I was also worried about the risk of ETC card theft. After some research, I found that ETC cards with quick payment function enabled do pose a risk, as some criminals can use POS machines near car windows to steal small amounts of money. However, I learned that since 2020, banks have defaulted to disabling small-amount contactless payments for ETC cards. The ETC card I currently use is a dedicated card issued separately by the bank, which doesn't have any financial functions at all, so there's no need to worry while driving. I recommend choosing this type of single-purpose card when applying for ETC. If you already have a co-branded card, it's best to go to the bank to disable the contactless payment function or set a payment limit. Another tip is to remove the card and store it in the glove compartment when the car is not in use.

[EmeryMarie]

As a veteran driver with ten years of experience, my advice is that the ETC system itself is quite secure—the key lies in card settings. Early ETC bank cards did pose risks if the 'QuickPass no-password' feature was activated, with reports of people having hundreds of yuan stolen through the windshield. Nowadays, ETC cards come in three types: co-branded bank cards, stored-value cards, and postpaid cards. The safest option is to get a postpaid card with pure ETC functionality—such cards simply cannot be used for payments. If you already have a card with financial features, immediately disable small-amount no-password payments via your bank app. Personally, I remove the card whenever parking for more than three days—simple and worry-free.

[Bernice]

I've specifically researched the issue of ETC card fraud, and it mainly depends on the type of card. Nowadays, newly issued ETC cards are generally secure, especially the dedicated cards issued by provincial expressway companies, which don't have any financial accounts at all. A friend of mine encountered fraud with an old-style co-branded card last year, but the loss didn't exceed 300 yuan due to the contactless payment limit. If you're worried, there are three solutions: disable the quick payment function in your mobile banking app, remove the card when parking, or simply switch to a pure ETC card. In fact, toll stations are now promoting cardless ETC devices that don't require inserting a card at all.