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Seven Security Measures Autonomous Vehicle Makers Should Adhere to

Sep 24, 2018

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Autonomous driving technology is trending towards becoming a big part of the future of the auto industry. However, the security challenges automakers and tech companies face on the way to developing autonomous driving cars are huge. The fact that this industry is still largely computer-driven means that it’s vulnerable to getting hacked, An autonomous driving car could easily be infected with viruses by hackers, and the extent of what they can do could have negative effects on the industry.

Blackberry is developing self-driving technologies with Chinese internet tech company, Baidu. Blackberry’s CEO, John Chen, told thetelegraph.co.uk that autonomous driving cars could be hacked and turned into “fully loaded weapons.”

He contends that autonomous cars are programmed with more lines of code than a typical fighter jet, and this offers a bigger playground for hackers to exploit weaknesses in the program by injecting certain viruses that could turn these cars into “fully loaded weapons.”

Blackberry recommended a number of security measures that automakers and tech companies need to adhere to ensure that the technologies they’re developing are above board, according to topspeed.com.

Secure the supply chain: Ensure the supply train, software, and hardware components of vehicles are safe and secure.
Use trusted components: Utilize a security architecture deeply rooted in defense from attacks.
Employ isolation and trusted messaging: Use safety critical and non-safety critical systems and make sure these systems are secure.
Conduct in-field health checks: Monitor a car’s health.
Create a rapid incident response network: Share common vulnerabilities through a trusted network of different companies.
Use a lifecycle management system: Quickly secure a vehicle via over-the-air updates when an issue is detected.
Make safety and security a part of the culture: Ensure all suppliers are properly trained in functional safety and security practices.

Blackberry doesn’t think autonomous cars shouldn’t be used commercially for at least another five years. These issues need to be addressed first, either by the companies that develop them or by governments and regulatory organizations.