Question

Your book talked about security issues with car automation. Why would that be of any concerns for information security profecinals?

Answer 1

Just like any other computer-enabled device, however, driverless cars are prone to cybercrimes. Criminals might be motivated to hack into the vehicles’ operating systems and steal important passenger data, or else disrupt its operation and jeopardize the passenger’s safety. Some of the possible cyber-precipitated scenarios that you can expect with the full adoption of driverless cars include:

• Criminals hacking cars for ransom before allowing the user either in or out of the car. This can happen when the car is parked or driving.
• Terrorists hijacking the network and taking control over a transport system in a given area. Hacking a network can cause major crashes by disabling the light-detecting and ranging sensors, leading to endless confusion.
• Hacking the car’s operating system remotely to destroy it could harm the user financially.
• As with any other hacking scenario, hacking into an autonomous car could expose a great deal of your personal data—including your destination. With this information, someone could potentially track the user with an aim toward robbery or assault. If hackers can gain access to the controls of the vehicle, it could also be possible to redirect the vehicle to a more convenient location for either of those scenarios.
• As the technology evolves, driverless cars will be able to turn on any smart device in your home, be it the TV, heater, garage door, or front gate, and everything programmable in the home. Hackers could use these features to gain access to your home.

Several autonomous vehicle pilot programs are currently underway in multiple states and countries; so far, no security issues related to hacking have been observed. In addition, many of these pilot programs are being used to see what systems need to be connected, and what systems could be isolated. For example, there could be a benefit to have two separate systems for the entertainment and drive controls of a car. As AVs evolve, companies will continue to focus on rider safety.

The threats and benefits of autonomous cars will not be entirely clear until the technology is fully rolled out. The good thing is that even with the many probable cybersecurity threats, developers of AVs still have the chance of coming up with a foolproof cybersecurity plan to keep both the vehicles and their passengers safe.