Automakers need to do more to stop cyber-attacks: experts
Posted February 10, 2015 5:11 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
With vehicles becoming more computerized, auto-hacking is becoming a high-tech concern for drivers.
Sam Seo, co-founder of real-world analytics company Physicalytics, said everything from a car’s lights to brakes and accelerator can be hacked.
“Every mechanical thing that I push or interact with is kind of like a remote control so there’s a computer in between and if I can infiltrate that computer, I control the car,” he explained.
Seo said when it comes to privacy, that can also be compromised in a cyber attack.
“Surveillance is another issue because not only can I steer your wheel, I can also listen to your conversations while your on the phone,” he said.
Hacking worries emerged from the United States this week with the release of a new congressional report called “Tracking and Hacking” commissioned by Massachusetts senator Ed Markey.
According to the report, as vehicles become more connected to the internet, automakers are failing to take the necessary measures to protect them against cyber-attacks.
The report found that only one car manufacturer said they were aware of a hacking incident involving one of their vehicles, while only two automakers said they had the ability to diagnose and respond to a hack in real time.
“The autobrands are listening and hopefully in the next models they release, it will have those security features built into it,” said Seo. “Right now the tech is very new, so it does have vulnerabilities and that’s completely forgivable…hopefully in the next versions it will be more secure.”
The computer systems can also allow automakers to collect data about your vehicle’s performance and your driving history. Opting out of those programs can often mean having to disable key features like your navigation system.
One notable incident of a vehicle cyber-attack has happened already in the United States. A disgruntled former employee of a car sales centre in Austin, Tex. took over a web-based vehicle-immobilization system, and more than 100 drivers found their vehicles had been disabled or their horns began honking out of control.
