The emerging role of cybersecurity in the automotive sector

Rapid advances in technology have transformed operations in all industries and the automotive industry has been no exception. However, as the automotive sector joins the digital bandwagon, it is also exposed to malicious cybersecurity threats and attacks. As the integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and advanced connected car technology has facilitated customers an advanced driving experience with remote management and maintenance, cybersecurity has become a key concern not only for original equipment manufacturers (OEM) but all automotive stakeholders.

With the trend advancements – connected, autonomous, shared and electrified, cars are getting smarter every day in terms of features like smart dashboard and advanced automated driving. Also, some features such as multi-modal interaction, multi-screen interaction, 5G connectivity, V2X, OTA and digital keys are becoming more and more common in new era connected cars. The connected car industry has thus experienced steady growth in recent years.

Nowadays, connected cars allow computers or mobile apps to remotely control and monitor almost every system in a vehicle, including steering, brakes, locking and unlocking, and the engine itself. . This makes cars vulnerable to hackers who can gain information or even take control of an automated car if the system is not sufficiently protected; making cybersecurity a major concern for customers and automakers. Automated vehicle manufacturers address multiple facets of cybersecurity like computer systems, communication systems, vehicle interface, data transfer, back-end, cloud, etc., to ensure safe and secure mobility. secure.

All vehicles connected to modern age innovations like information technology, digitalization, IoT, etc., are potential victims of cybersecurity threats. Some of the common threats among these are:

Malware: Malware attacks can refer to different types of attacks such as viruses, Trojans, worms, ransomware, spyware, etc. confidential information or completely disrupt the system.

Internet of Things (IoT) attacks: While the application of IoT can facilitate customers with an advanced driving experience, the increase of IoT devices in vehicles is a matter of serious concern as it can be a gateway for hackers to penetrate and exploit new technologies. other network devices.

Password hack: It can be a key threat to car infotainment systems as attackers can use various methods such as exploiting media platforms, accessing password database, exploiting from the network to access unprotected passwords to crack a private password.

Denial of Service (DoS): DoS refers to the shutdown of a machine or network, rendering it inaccessible to the users for whom it is intended. With a DoS attack, hackers can overload a system and drivers can be completely deprived of legitimate requests.

Major automotive players around the world have opted for advanced cybersecurity technologies such as blockchain, 5G and artificial intelligence to mitigate security risks such as malfunctions or cyberattacks. However, with the constant evolution of technology, automotive cybersecurity is also experiencing new trends such as Cryptographic Hash Functions (CHF) – providing enhanced security in public and private blockchains, Quantum Cryptography (QC) – born from the application of quantum physics and anti-theft systems for vehicles, to name a few.



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Disclaimer

The opinions expressed above are those of the author.



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