Like technology itself, cybersecurity is ever-evolving and encompassing more areas of our lives, including transportation. Popular science fiction movies have led us to expect flying taxis and private space travel as the future of transportation. If that is going to become an eventual reality, the first steps towards that future are “smart cars” and automated vehicles.

Electric vehicles are expected to account for 58% of global passenger vehicle sales by 2040. The software and electrical components markets are also likely to face increased pressure and new challenges as they develop secure designs and equipment for these futuristic vehicles.

Of course, this progress has also attracted the attention of malicious actors. Electric vehicles are computerized systems just like any other, and they offer a wealth of user information and other data that make them lucrative targets for malicious hackers. Let us look at the types of cyber crimes that target modern cars and how drivers can protect their vehicles from these attacks.

Types of vehicle hacking

There are many well-known ways that attackers hack computer systems to access personal data. And as manufacturers add more Internet of Things (IoT) devices to their vehicles, the vehicles become more susceptible to similar vulnerabilities. This is because security mechanisms aren’t yet equipped to match the relevant threats. Manufacturers and drivers should both be aware of the potential threats facing smart cars and automated vehicles.

Mobile app hacks

Automakers and app developers are turning mobile phone applications into vehicle remote controls, giving attackers new ways of accessing user information. In the last couple of years alone, Android has had to fix 75,000 mobile apps that exhibited vulnerabilities to cyber hacks. As these apps are commonly used in vehicles, this adds yet another way of exposing personal data.

Security researchers are starting to pay more attention (Read more...)