The automotive industry is one of the most challenging industries with new quality requirements due to its increasing digitalization, interaction, and automation of vehicles. It is vital for vehicles, and their components are being developed considering cybersecurity in mind. This has impacted vehicle development and its life cycle. Many automotive cyber security training courses are developed in cooperation considering the latest cyber security features in mind. The certification course comprises multi-stage qualifications and is also characterized by a high level of practical bearing.
Modern vehicles have a dozen computers on board, and they are not only running GPS or playing music. Computer monitor control every part, which includes steering, brakes, etc. If vehicle computer systems are not properly protected, hackers can steal away data or even take control of the vehicle. This makes cyber security a major concern for consumers. Cybersecurity in the automotive industry entails and helps in detecting threats.
Let us understand why automotive cyber security is a big deal:
As we have described earlier, modern vehicles rely on a computer system for monitoring and controlling the vehicle’s different systems. If the technology is not secure, then hackers can take away data and even track the location. Hackers can also run commands and force the vehicle to run on the hacker’s action instead of the driver. While the data is stolen, it is disconcerting, though, the idea that a hacker can take control of a car. Hackers can use commands to activate and deactivate different features such as A/C and windshield wipers.
There are some critical areas in cybersecurity for connected vehicles, such as security by design, risk assessment and management, threat detection and protection, incident response, collaboration and engagement with third parties, and awareness and training.
Automotive cyber-attack methods:
There are several areas that must be concerned with regarding cyber-attack methods:
- Direct physical attacks: these type of attack happens when someone has direct physical access to any vehicle. These attacks involve the use of onboard vehicle networks, ports, and other connectors. Hackers can install hardware and software which can easily offer them control of their vehicle.
- Indirect physical vulnerabilities: this type of attack requires some type of mode for carrying the attack. The mode even includes firmware updates, the use of SD cards, etc.
- Wireless vulnerabilities: this includes short-range methods such as Wi-Fi and also Bluetooth attacks for a long-range mechanism that has the use of GPS. These attacks don’t require any physical access to a car.
- Sensor fooling vulnerabilities: as there are no documented threats of any time, this does not mean that sensors are not exploitable.
Conclusion:
Experts in automotive cybersecurity mainly believe in a layered approach for vehicle security which also reduces the risk of successful vehicle cyber-attack and also mitigates the potential consequences. There are many cybersecurity courses that cover all aspects of cybersecurity within the context of road vehicles. These courses have embedded systems and applications of cybersecurity in vehicles for determining various unique vulnerabilities. This course provides professionals in the automotive industry with the necessary basic knowledge to be able to consider the latest cybersecurity requirement.
