The increasing automation and connectivity of cars not only takes away the element of pleasure from driving itself, but also could make owners vulnerable to hackers trying to take control of their vehicles remotely. Connected cars are vehicles equipped with technology that enables them to communicate with other vehicles, infrastructure and the Internet. They use a variety of sensors, cameras and software to collect and exchange data, and each vehicle “talks” to others on the road and further connects to the city’s traffic systems and users via apps.
According to BMI, the British research arm of the financial company Fitch Solutions, cyberattacks on cars will become more likely due to the increasing role of software and autonomous driving.
And while the idea is that car companies provide “advanced navigation systems, seamless wireless updates, and improved efficiency and driving experience,” the downside is that vehicles are just as exposed to cybercriminals as any other connected device.
BMI points out that experts managed to hack Subaru and Kia models with the help of only the registration plates, which allowed them to “remotely control key vehicle functions and access the vehicle’s location history and personal data.”
Connected vehicles carry the risk not only of reduced privacy butć and from potentially compromised “vehicle functionality,” BMI said, warning of dangerous scenarios in which hacked cars are remotely controlled, leading to “unauthorized traffic diversion or vehicle hijacking.”
It is now up to the automotive industry to develop sufficient protection against hackers to protect drivers.