Concerns over Cybersecurity in Electric Vehicles
In the rapidly evolving electric vehicle (EV) industry, cybersecurity has emerged as a critical concern. According to Gartner, an alarming 75% of mobile applications fail basic security tests, posing a significant risk to EVs as digital keys, wireless fobs, and mobile applications have replaced traditional physical car keys.
As the global car market prepares for significant growth, driven by connectivity innovations, it is essential that Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) take responsibility for ensuring the safety of electric vehicles. The lack of historical experience addressing cybersecurity risks in the automotive industry, as evidenced by the lack of security built into many software and hardware components of first-generation connected cars, underscores the need for action.
Connected cars must be able to trust the components and services they are linked to. Connecting to untrusted devices might result in breaches, potentially compromising personally identifiable information such as location data, entertainment preferences, and financial information. Cyber threat actors can exploit flaws in vendor implementations of network connections, cellular networks, Wi-Fi, and physical connections in connected cars.
To combat these threats, OEMs should prioritise rigorous security testing early in the product development cycle. Imposing stringent cybersecurity requirements on suppliers is crucial to prevent introducing security vulnerabilities through components. Sharing resources between safety-critical and non-safety-critical functions can pose a security risk, and should be avoided.
Proper education on secure coding practices is often lacking in the automotive industry. To address this, partnerships between OEMs and cybersecurity specialists like Upstream. Auto can help build more secure vehicle systems. Keeping EV software and security patches up to date is essential to counter new threats and attacks.
Managing virtual car keys securely is also crucial. This requires secure key registration, verification of unlock attempts, and revocation. Unfortunately, there are no specific available search results listing leading OEMs that have partnered with specialists in safety solutions for electromobility to improve electric vehicle safety.
Threat actors may control security-critical aspects of vehicle operations, such as the cruise control system, to operate the steering and braking system. This underscores the importance of securing all aspects of connected vehicles.
A list compiled includes seven common vulnerabilities OEMs must address when building electric vehicles. These include application dependencies, connectivity, and more complex electronics increasing risks as the industry transitions to autonomous vehicles. The number of security vulnerabilities in Android and iOS mobile operating systems is a cause for concern, and should be considered when designing and implementing EV systems.
In conclusion, as the electric vehicle market grows, it is crucial that OEMs prioritise cybersecurity to protect both their customers and their businesses. This includes rigorous testing, education on secure coding practices, and partnerships with cybersecurity specialists. Regular software updates and secure management of virtual car keys are also essential. By addressing these challenges, the automotive industry can ensure a safe and secure future for electric vehicles.
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