There have been a few news stories in recent years about hackers who have tried to take control of a car's functions. The most famous incident involved a Jeep Cherokee, which was apparently hacked by a teenager who used an iPhone and $1,500 worth of equipment to gain access to the vehicle's entertainment system.
As many people may not know, cars are among the most popular targets for hackers. The number of vehicles that are victims of cybersecurity incidents continues to increase each year. In 2019, there were 160 incidents recorded, a 94% increase from 2016. As new models of favored cars emerge carrying the latest in connected technology, the chance that they can and will be hacked greatly increases. Therefore, it's always important to keep your car's systems safe and up to date. If you're concerned about hackers messing with your vehicle, you might want to look into using a tracker app like Drive Safely or DriveGuard to monitor your car's location at all times.
As with any device connected to the internet of things (IoT), Hackers could remotely take control of your car, causing serious damage. Your dashboard settings could also be altered, preventing you from opening doors and breaking engine and airbag systems.
Many new cars now have internet connectivity built-in, which allows them to receive updates from their manufacturer and download new software. This is a potential weak point in an attack. Hackers could potentially use this open connection to implement malicious software, which could allow them to take advantage of this vulnerability and gain control of the system.
How are manufacturers working to protect vehicles from cyber attacks?
To stay protected, car manufacturers are using a variety of tactics to keep hackers out. They're employing advanced software and hardware to lock down their models, adding Bluetooth-free zones around sensitive parts of the vehicle, and even including sensors that detect unusual behavior. These measures are essential for keeping your car secure from hackers and safe from hackers.
While the primary focus of most cyber security efforts is to prevent unauthorized access to an organization's systems or data, it is also important to address privacy and data integrity concerns. Cyber attacks can take many forms, including unauthorized access to a vehicle's computer system, hijacking a vehicle's navigation system or sabotaging a vehicle through the use of software-based electronic devices. Up until now, there haven't been regulations that specifically address the cybersecurity of vehicles, but the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued guidance on this topic with regulations that all dealerships will have to implement by December 9, 2022. One caveat is that this cybersecurity, as part of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLB Act), is related to the security of data within the dealerships and similar institutions rather than the vehicles themselves.
Cyber attacks aren't just scary; they could also be deadly. So, how do we protect ourselves from this kind of malicious targetting? First, know that it's possible. By learning about the technology inside your car and being aware of potential security issues, you can reduce your risk. Second, keep your car up-to-date with regular software updates and keep your anti-virus software running smoothly.
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