Cyber Security: Hackers Find Creative ways to Breach Automobiles

The automobile sector is going through radical changes and they have to take precautions to fortify automotive security.

Fremont, CA: Auto manufacturers are transforming the automotive industry by focusing on connectivity. Today, car manufacturers are offering more software than they did a decade ago as increasingly popular self-driving cars use integrated software. From a user’s perspective, they expect everything to work in a safe, reliable, and smart way as cloud connectivity and wireless technologies have become widespread. The growing emphasis of the automotive industry on software and connectivity gave birth to a new challenge, which is automotive cybersecurity.  In the fast-moving automobile world, to deliver the products quickly, vehicle security capabilities are ignored. Taking advantage of the vulnerabilities, the hackers exploit the hardware and the software. Since an attack on automobiles in 2010, industry leaders understand that cybercrime threats are a reality.

The biggest challenge for hackers attempting to exploit remote access points is to be close to the vehicle. Cybercriminals have also attacked a car’s Remote Keyless System, which allows owners to open and start a car. The key fob technology is decades old and is difficult to crack. However, a new generation of code grabbers has allowed the miscreants to mimic outright or intercept the signals. On the dark web, cybercriminals can collaborate and share best practices, and the code grabbers are also increasingly available on the same platform.

Hackers are capable of gaining access to cars through manufacturers who communicate with vehicles through applications and send information to them. A breach can easily muddle with the information shared between the company servers and the vehicle's systems. In recent times, hackers have become creative with their cybercriminal activities as they use a car owner’s phone via phishing campaigns or fake apps and hack the vehicle. In the quest to get their hands on real-time information, the hackers even successfully manipulated cellular networks through built-in SIM cards use by car companies.

According to a study conducted by IntSights, the situation will only get worse as cars have decade long lives, and they need constant updates that allow hackers to take advantage of vulnerabilities. This scenario leaves cars with gaping security holes. As the auto industry is digitized, organizations need to take necessary precautions to strengthen automotive cybersecurity.

See also: Top Cybersecurity Companies