Cybersecurity was a red-hot discussion topic at the SAE 2014 World Congress as digital components and car-to-cloud communications become an ever-growing part of the vehicle package.
Connecting vehicles with the Internet means that cybersecurity is now a necessity that must be designed into nearly every piece of automotive hardware and software.
Finding ways to prevent cyber attacks on vehicles has the attention of the global automotive industry as well as a few high school and college students.
Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx discussed a wide range of technology and safety issues following his SAE Government/Industry Meeting keynote speech, including cybersecurity, autonomous vehicles, and international harmonization of safety standards.
The number of threats will increase rapidly as more vehicles are connected, and vulnerabilities on older vehicles will be in constant need of updating.
Although in-vehicle vulnerabilities have been identified, others exist in cloud-based systems. Public facilities, from traffic-light-controlling central computers to non-automotive infrastructure, may have little or no protection, speakers asserted.
Experts see a loss of motorist trust if cyber attacks are possible. Common command for automotive service is one example of dangers that must be addressed.
Argus, a global leader in automotive cybersecurity, has upgraded its stand-alone Fleet Protection backend platform and is now providing continuous live monitoring of both automotive and commercial aircraft fleets.
The group will classify attack methods, propose preventative strategies, define levels of security by criticality of system type, and identify architecture-level strategies for mitigating attacks.
Jeff Massimilla, General Motors chief product cybersecurity officer, discusses current cybersecurity challenges, its talent shortage and why today's answers won't be tomorrow's.