DETROIT — As cars become more like PCs on wheels, what’s to stop a hacker from taking over yours?

In recent demonstrations, hackers have shown they can slam a car’s brakes at freeway speeds, jerk the steering wheel and even shut down the engine — all from their laptop computers.

The hackers are publicizing their work to reveal vulnerabilities present in a growing number of car computers. All cars and trucks contain anywhere from 20 to 70 computers.

They control everything from the brakes to acceleration to the windows.

Manufacturing puts up strong numbersWASHINGTON — U.S. factories expanded last month at the fastest pace since June 2011 on a jump in orders. The report signals that manufacturing output could strengthen in coming months.The Institute for Supply Management says its manufacturing index rose to 55.7 in August from 55.4 in July. That topped the index’s 12-month average of 52. A reading above 50 indicates growth. The ISM is a trade group of purchasing managers.A gauge of new orders rose nearly five points to 63.2, the highest level in more than two years.

Construction spending risesWASHINGTON — Spending on U.S. construction projects rose in July, led by strong gains in housing and nonresidential projects.Construction spending increased 0.6 percent in July compared with June when activity was unchanged, the Commerce Department said.The June performance represented an upward revision from an initial estimate that spending had fallen 0.6 percent.Total construction activity rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $900.8 billion in July, the strongest performance since June 2009.

Home prices climb 12.4% during JulyLOS ANGELES — U.S. home prices jumped 12.4 percent in July from a year earlier, reflecting a housing market that’s increasingly favoring sellers amid a tight supply of available homes for sale.Real estate data provider CoreLogic said home prices in every state but Delaware climbed on annual basis in July.

Verizon sees no big changes from dealVerizon’s $130 billion deal with Vodafone is huge for both companies, although Verizon customers in the U.S. are unlikely to see any big changes to their bills or their service.Verizon is buying the 45 percent of its wireless business owned by British cell phone carrier Vodafone. That will let Verizon keep all of the profits from that business, and gives Vodafone a large pile of cash that will fund its expansion ambitions in Europe. It’s the second-biggest buyout on record.Verizon Chairman and CEO Lowell McAdam said Tuesday that the company’s U.S. wireless businesses are working well now, and that he would move slowly on any changes.

Hybrid issue, bolt spur Toyota recallsTOKYO — Toyota is recalling 200,000 vehicles for a hybrid-system problem and another 169,000 for an engine bolt defect.Toyota said there were no accidents related to either recall. The first is over an inverter in the hybrid system for the Lexus RX400 and the Highlander models overseas, and the Harrier and Kluger hybrids in Japan. Some 141,000 vehicles are being recalled in the U.S., and 15,000 in Japan.The defect may cause an alarm to go off, and the hybrid may stop running.The second involves the Lexus GS350, IS350, Crown and Mark X models, including 106,000 vehicles in North America, and 59,000 vehicles in Japan. The bolts may loosen, causing the engine to stall.