With Tesla’s recent announcement of a semi-autonomous vehicle and
Google’s progress in testing self-driving cars, the era of the driverless
future has begun. But while the autonomous vehicles are meant to make driving
safer and less stressful, they also present a whole new range of security
challenges that must be addressed long before these vehicles hit the road in
large quantities.
Consider a futuristic scenario in which a transportation and
logistics company has taken drivers out of the equation with self-driving
trucks, thus saving millions on employment and insurance costs. What would
happen if hackers breached the networks that connect and manage these trucks?
They could deactivate key sensors and GPS features. They could drive trucks
remotely to undisclosed locations, stealing both the vehicles and their
contents. They could even threaten lives. And the main fact, who will be
responsible for these activities either the owner or the manufacturer or the
government.
From a security standpoint, new in-vehicle connected technologies
including laser range finders, cameras, ultrasonic devices, wheel sensors, and
other measurement systems, will all be access points for hackers. If even one
of these potential points is not properly secured, then the entire operation
could come crashing down.
Creating a security infrastructure for autonomous vehicles, of
course, is a difficult task when vehicle-to-vehicle and Internet of Things
infrastructures have yet to mature. But considering the fact that today’s
popular smartphones and mobile applications are routinely hacked, it would be
wise for OEMs, suppliers and technology providers to collaborate on security measures
before the autonomous vehicle goes mainstream.
In further blogs, you'll find some more information on security
issues in AVs.
Thank you !!!
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