Who would have thought 10 years ago that cars would be connected to the Internet? Well, technology has been evolving in such a way that this has become a reality.
This has brought many positive things when it comes to being behind the wheel, but it is also something that has caused a number of risks to arise, such as being attacked by professional hackers. A car or any other type of connected vehicle to the network is a target for cybercriminals. For this reason, cybersecurity is key to protect our connected car against possible cyberattacks.
Everything you can do and it offers you a connected car
Although we find more and more features and services in the connected car, it is important to know that, today, it is still in an initial phase. For example, all vehicles manufactured today have a computer with Internet connection with which you can put the GPS navigator on the screen, synchronize with the cell phone and thus have Whatsapp and Spotify in the vehicle or improve the performance of the car with mobile applications.
With a connected car you can also control the speed of the vehicle automatically and it can even intervene on its own in case of driver absent-mindedness. Not to mention the e-call system of emergency call that is connected to the network. In addition, other less important tasks such as switching on the heating or changing the lighting inside the vehicle can also be done.
Risks of not having cybersecurity in a connected car
According to Faconauto, in 2021, all records for cyberattacks to vehicles in all countries and of all brands will be broken. It is true that in previous years there were not so many connected cars, but, even so, it is a fact to take into account because it is expected that over the years there will be more and more vehicles linked to the Internet with a greater connection, so it is to be expected that cyberattacks will continue to increase.
If a cybercriminal can hack into our vehicle can have fatal consequences, ranging from the theft of personal data, activating or deactivating the airbags, attacking the e-call emergency call system to prevent assistance in the event of an accident, or even manipulating the vehicle itself by disconnecting the brakes or moving it remotely. So, cybersecurity in connected vehicles is not an extra but a necessity for our own safety as users.
Mobile applications are also subject to potential hacks, as they are easy to control for cybercriminals. In addition, electric cars must be taken into account because they can also be hacked, causing failures in the electrical system, breakdowns in the recharging points, etc.
The importance of cybersecurity in a connected car
For all these reasons, cybersecurity will be an integral part of vehicles from 2024. In fact, the sale of new vehicles without cybersecurity certification will be banned in the European Union as of June of that year. With a good strategy, we can avoid threats or attacks, protect our personal data and drive more safely.
In this way, cybersecurity will become a very important part of the automotive industry in the coming years.
Utimaco, cybersecurity company
At Utimaco, we are a cybersecurity company that offers solutions in this area, developing encryption solutions both for general purpose and for the financial sector, digital signature, time stamping, PKI solutions, cybersecurity in Blockchain and Internet of Things (IoT), etc.
We are leaders in protection solutions for the connected car: payment protection, data sharing via PKI, key and identity management, etc.
