CONNECTED CAR
Cybersecurity is one of the most sought after solutions as the digital landscape increases the cyber-attack surface – and electric cars are no exception
CONNECTED CAR
Cybersecurity is one of the most sought after solutions as the digital landscape increases the cyber-attack surface – and electric cars are no exception
You wouldn ’ t just hand someone unrestricted access to your mobile phone , would you ? Nor would you be willing to hand over your keys to a stranger who plans on taking them from you .
The electric vehicle ( EV ) threat landscape is now mimicking that of any other technology device , thanks to their inclusion in the digital ecosystem . While this is not necessarily a problem that is unique to EVs , it seems that more electric cars are implementing technology solutions and allowing drivers to connect with more than just their phones , opening up the attack vector landscape .
Nevertheless , with the dawn of smart EV charging , hackers are on the lookout for easy ways to steal as more drivers entrust their cars to pay for electricity — a feature unique to EVs .
The use of fintech apps has provided consumers with unforeseen levels of convenience and , as EVs enter into the digital ecosystem , they too hold the power to leverage these apps . Like any other devices these days , hackers are able to connect with cars from a distance and don ’ t have to race to catch their target in a Fastand-Furious-like fashion ( there are also no predator drones involved in the making of a suitable car-hacking environment ).
EVS CAN BE TARGETED FOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Although it would seem that EVs are just as good a target as mobile phones or laptops , they are unlikely to pique the interest of those after a quick cash job .
“ Hackers looking for a quick cash pay-out don ’ t tend to target vehicles , unless they plan to steal the car itself , as it doesn ’ t normally give them access to personal financial data ,” says Andy Barratt , UK Managing Director of Cyber Security Consultancy , Coalfire .
One of the key words within this comment from Barratt is ‘ data ’. Now gold dust for most organisations , data is critical for hackers in getting what they want , whether that ’ s a much larger pay-out or tormenting an individual for monetary bail .
“ However , wider integration of fintech applications into EVs could present cybercriminals with the cash-grab opportunities they ’ re on the hunt for ”, which would explain the importance of financial security in the development of EV solutions .
36 [ Jan 2023 ] EVMAGAZINE . COM