Automotive Cybersecurity  – The safeguarding of networks, software and electronic systems from unauthorized hackers.

Did you know there are roughly 100 million lines of software code in today’s vehicles? And, by 2030 it is estimated that will increase to 300 million. With so much code in vehicles it becomes a prime opportunity for cyber-attacks.

Once a bad actor gains physical access to your vehicle, they can control the internal communication system, which can affect the operations of your steering, acceleration and braking systems. They can also access remotely the Bluetooth, remote start and the GPS system.

By employing advanced encryption techniques, intrusion detection systems, and secure communication protocols, automotive cyber security can ensure the integrity of your vehicles’ most important operating systems.

Here are some things to be aware of and ways to protect your vehicle today.

• Alarm Systems – These systems monitor the vehicle’s network and detect any suspicious activity or attempts to breach the system.
• Authentication – Verify the identity of users and devices before granting them access to the vehicle’s systems. You can do this by using passwords, biometrics or digital certificates.
• Communication protocol – Establish a secure channel for communication which can prevent unauthorized users from intercepting your data.
• Encryption – One of the key measures in automotive cybersecurity is encryption. By encrypting the data of the different components, you can ensure that the hackers cannot make sense of the data.
• Phishing Attack – This could lead to consequences, such as accidents or malicious control of self-driving cars through Cyber-attacks on core connected vehicle systems.
• Security of EV Charging Infrastructure – Hackers can exploit these vulnerabilities by manipulating devices remotely, committing fraud, exploiting data, or disabling charging stations. For this, ensuring the security of EV charging infrastructure is essential for the reliability and success of sustainable mobility.

For a deeper understanding of Cybersecurity and Safety of Modern Vehicles the NHTSA has put out a “Best Practices” document, you can access it here.