Cars are becoming ‘smarter’, according to a new BlackBerry report, and people who intend to use these vehicles want them to be adequately protected.
The company tried to understand people’s opinions about Internet of Things (IoT) devices and the cyber security of such devices in preparation for launching a cybersecurity marking program for IoT devices (opens in a new tab)such as smart speakers and door cameras, in 2023
The program, like the EnergyStar program, which tells consumers how much energy a gadget is using, would tell consumers more about the level of security built into IoT devices.
Helpful grades
BlackBerry surveyed over 1,000 people and said three-quarters (74%) agreed – connected cars and electric vehicle charging stations should be judged on the level of cyber security.
Elsewhere in the report, only half (54%) of respondents are worried about hijacking their IoT devices and using them as endpoints in situations such as botnets or ransomware attacks.
Moreover, a third (32%) said they owned IoT devices and kept them disconnected due to cybersecurity concerns. Even so, 82% agree – such an assessment of cybersecurity would be helpful.
The survey does not guarantee the program will end with smart car coding, but a White House measuring public opinion on the subject may point the way in the project.
With this in mind, the inclusion of intelligent cars in the program would certainly be welcome reports break-ins into smart cars, with potentially dangerous consequences, is nothing new.
In February 2020, McAfee cybersecurity experts published their own report (opens in a new tab) warning that vehicle artificial intelligence (AI) systems can be manipulated, which could impact the future and safety of autonomous vehicles.
A process that McAfee calls “model hacking” is capable of completely replacing the software systems in vehicles. The constant evolution of artificial intelligence technology and the smart cars themselves make model hacking a problem that will plague owners of smart cars for many years to come.
Until then, we may not see the full impact of “model hacking” as autonomous vehicle technology is in the early stages of development and the beta technology that Tesla offers to consumers, for example, is far from mainstreaming.
While we may not need to worry too much at the moment, being aware of the dangers of smart cars will prepare us for the future, and the planned White House program should help.
By: Ars Technica (opens in a new tab)