A snippet of Vound Software’s infographic detailing the cybersecurity concerns of autonomous vehicles. (Image courtesy of Vound Software.)
If the hacking of the Jeep Cherokee on WIRED (video available in this past article) taught us anything, it's that the frightening possibility exists that anyone on the highway can see a hacker disable their car's brakes, or worse.
The truth is that any connected device—including cars—can be at risk. And people are beginning to notice. According to a Munich Re study, 55 percent of corporate risk managers think that cybersecurity is the biggest risk with respect to self-driving cars. Just some of the other risks they mentioned affecting the auto industry include auto theft via hacking and cyber attacks targeting smart city road infrastructure.
Wouldn't it be scary to see the classic TV show hacking trope of all the lights turning green happen once we build our smart cities?
Unless systems are siloed by tapping into a car's wireless communications, a paired mobile or a connected third-party device, a hacker can then pivot their access and control to various other parts of the vehicle.
According to a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) release, these hackers can even force a driver's wheels to turn or their breaks to shut off. According to Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), almost any car is vulnerable.
To learn more about how engineers and drivers can prevent the hacking of vehicles, the new laws surrounding this risk, and what this all means, check out this infographic by Vound Software. Engineers will learn about the risk involved with adding connectivity to both smart and self-driving cars.