Cybersecurity in the automotive industry: protection against the invisible threat.

Cars are no longer just vehicles but are becoming increasingly computerised machines. While modern features provide drivers with convenience and new opportunities, they also open the door to potential threats. What exactly is cybersecurity? Why is this issue becoming a key challenge for the automotive industry? These and many other questions will be answered in the following article by Szymon Jackiewicz – DevSecOps Engineer at Endego.

What exactly is cybersecurity?

Cyber security in the automotive industry is a vast field that is not just limited to ‘movie’ attacks by hackers sitting at a computer. It is also about threats related to physical access to the vehicle and theft. Hackers can swap car modules for non-original ones and even gain access to valuable company patents. The biggest threat, however, is the ability to remotely access and manipulate vehicle components. The consequences can be drastic, involving remote vehicle firing, blocking the ability to start the vehicle in exchange for a ransom, eavesdropping on communications, tracing the route of travel, and compromising the privacy and security of users.

Motives of cyber attacks in the automotive industry:

The motives behind cyber attacks on cars overlap to some extent with the goals of the conventional criminals taking them on. Innovative technologies, however, are providing the bad guys with new opportunities. Through cyberattacks, criminals can pursue targets such as:

• Introduction of malicious software (Malware): One of the most common targets of cyber attacks is the introduction of malware into vehicle systems. This can allow hackers to remotely control the car or give them access to valuable data.
• Ransomware: Some attacks aim to extract ransom from vehicle owners who have lost control of their vehicles as a result of digital hacking.
• Hijacking: In the case of autonomous cars, hackers may attempt to hijack the vehicle and use it for criminal or terrorist purposes, posing a serious threat to public safety.
• Sabotage: sabotage, i.e., deliberately damaging a car’s components or influencing its behaviour in a way that endangers people’s lives, is also a dangerous target.
• Vehicle break-in and theft: Cyber criminals may attempt to break into a car and disable security features in order to steal it. Some attacks are based, for example, on intercepting the vehicle’s key signal.
• Data theft and privacy breaches: Cyber criminals can attack cars to extract valuable data from vehicle systems, such as GPS data, driving history, or the driver’s personal information. Capturing data from a vehicle can enable hackers to eavesdrop and track.

Importantly, the attacks are not limited to autonomous cars or the latest models. Owners of older vehicles are also vulnerable to them. Cyberattacks therefore pose a serious threat to both the wide range of car users and the automotive industry itself. This is why it is so important to take care of cyber security in all aspects of vehicle design, production, and use.

How are cars secured against cyberattacks?

Protection against cyberattacks in the automotive industry is becoming a necessary part of automotive design and operation, ensuring the safety of users and allowing modern technologies to be used and developed in vehicles. Effective methods of defence against automotive cyberattacks on the part of vehicle designers and operators include:

• Threat modelling (Thread Modelling): Engineers seek to understand what potential threats could occur in a given system by identifying potential points of attack. Risk analysis involves identifying potential threats, their impact on vehicle systems, and the likelihood of specific attacks occurring. This helps to assess what the most important areas to secure are.
• Secure software lifecycle: Security must be considered at every stage of the software lifecycle, from conception and design, to testing and analysing the programme for vulnerabilities, to security and regular updates. Cyclical software updates should be implemented remotely and in a way that avoids the risk of criminals impersonating the manufacturer.
• Hardware security: The introduction of hardware security measures is of paramount importance. They can make it more difficult for hackers to physically access the car’s components and protect key systems from tampering. This includes, for example, making it difficult to locate and connect to the vehicle’s computer.
• Encryption of communications: All communications between vehicle components, as well as between the vehicle and external systems, should be encrypted to protect data and prevent unauthorised connections.
• Safeguarding against unauthorised components: With increasingly advanced vehicles, such as autonomous cars, it is important to control what components can be connected to the vehicle to avoid unauthorised modifications.
• Emergency systems and functional safety: In the event of the failure of components that have a significant impact on the safety of the driver and passengers, the vehicle should have fail-safe systems to ensure safety as a result of an attack or failure.
• Awareness and education: employees and vehicle users should be aware of cyber threats and know how to deal with a potential attack. Education is key to ensuring safety.

General guidance for users

The cybersecurity of vehicles is also the responsibility of their users. To minimise the risk of your car becoming a target for hackers and cybercriminals, you should:

• regularly update the software on your vehicle,
• comply with the manufacturer’s recommendations on the use of software, selection of parts, etc.
• only use support from trustworthy service providers.

How does Endego support companies in the fight against cyberattacks?

As Endego, we are proud of our role in ensuring security in the automotive industry. Our cyber security solutions and services are based on the extensive knowledge and experience of our engineers. We support automotive manufacturers in implementing advanced cyber security management systems (CSMS) that comply with international standards such as ISO. Components designed by Endego are immune to cyberattacks from the ground up. We create top-quality products that meet the most stringent security standards, so our customers can rest assured that their vehicles are adequately protected against cyber threats.

If you would like to know more about this, we can support vehicle manufacturers with cyber security. Get in touch!

Summary

As modern technology in cars develops, cyber security in the automotive industry is becoming increasingly important. Engineers and security specialists are constantly working to secure vehicles against cyberattacks. Provided that manufacturers use proven component suppliers and users follow recommendations on the frequency and quality of maintenance, cars with the latest systems can be used and driven without fear.