From MEMA Washington Insider
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Vehicle cybersecurity is front and center again, following a high-profile media story and report from a U.S. Senator. Both the news story and report are a continuation of an earlier theme: that the potential exists for a vehicle’s computers to be wirelessly accessed in order to gain control of its operation, track its location and access drivers’ personal information (contact information, phone calls, etc.) stored in the vehicle or through a connected smart phone.
A recent episode of the CBS News program “60 Minutes” ran a segment on the efforts by the Department of Defense to prevent cyber-attacks and hacking. Within the segment was a demonstration of wirelessly hacking into a car and taking over its operation. The segment on the car starts at 6:44 in the episode available for viewing here.
In addition, Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) released a report this week detailing the cyber vulnerabilities within today’s vehicles. Last year, Markey sent detailed letters to 20 major automakers seeking information about their efforts to protect vehicle data and prevent hacking into a car. His report concludes that while nearly 100 percent of new vehicles use wireless technology, security measures to prevent remote access are inconsistent among the automakers, and only two of the 16 automakers that responded to Markey’s letter described “any capability to diagnose or meaningfully respond to an infiltration real time … ”
A copy of the report can be found here.
Automaker industry groups are working together on addressing the technical aspect of these issues. Recently, an Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) was formed for the automotive industry, and MEMA member companies will be part of that process. The ISAC works to collect and share information about cyber threats and vulnerabilities in motor vehicle electronics and associated in-vehicle networks. The ISAC recommendations will be shared with NHTSA, and will result in industry standards designed to enhance the security of vehicle data systems.
