As vehicle technology advances and becomes more sophisticated, experts say they will also become more popular targets for cybercriminals, leading some to wonder whether developers are adequately addressing the potential problem.
firm IntSights recently reported, in an analysis titled “Under The Hood: Cybercriminals Exploit Automotive Industry's Software Features,” that cybercriminals have been releasing data on the Internet so far this decade that describes how to hack into automotive systems.
The information provides hackers with a de facto manual on how to infect vehicles with malicious software, to interfere with their computerized systems, or even to steal them.
“We discovered online stores selling hacking on the web. These online stores sell services that disable car immobilizers, as well as services that sell code grabbers and forums that give hackers a complete tutorial on how to steal vehicles,” the IntSights report states.
Analysts, such as IntSights, say that some of the main reasons automakers are now garnering the attention of hackers is the integration of certain disruptive systems – such as GPS navigation and WiFi Internet access.
Currently, the most common types of attacks target the vehicle's Controller Area Network or the CAN protocol – an element that can open access to all functions of a vehicle.
Experts say that owners are more susceptible to someone accessing the remote start system when the vehicle is not in motion. However, it is possible to overcome this limitation and hit your car while you are driving.
Etay Maor, head of the IntSights Security Service, said auto hacks can potentially take over vehicle systems and drivers' faults.
With current car technology, experts say hackers can also use traditional cyber-piracy tactics – like phishing – to infect cars with ransomware, which is basically a virus that hides access to the vehicle and holds it for ransom.
This type of cyberattack is quickly gaining popularity among criminals due to its relative anonymity and potential for success. Several governments in the United States have paid more than $1 million in ransoms this year to regain control of their systems.
As a result of the increasing risks, automobile manufacturers have taken many precautions for the development and updating of digital systems.
