03.01.2016
Veracode, a leader in protecting enterprises from today’s pervasive Web and mobile application threats, today issued findings from a joint IDC/Veracode study that polled 1,000 drivers across the UK and Germany, revealing 50 percent of drivers surveyed are concerned about the security of driver-aid applications such as adaptive cruise control, self-parking, and collision avoidance systems, reflecting an equal level of concern with the safety of the entire vehicle. Following in-depth interviews with leading vehicle manufacturers and automotive industry representatives, IDC predicts a security lag of up to three years before systems catch up with cyber threats.
As the ability for drivers to download applications to navigate, park, communicate, conserve fuel, self-park or other driver enhancements will revolutionize the automotive sector, IDC projects the total market for automotive-related Internet of Things in 2016 is worth $140.3bn.[i]Yet exposing a car to the Internet makes it vulnerable to cyberattack which could render the car unstable or dangerous, such as the 2015 demonstration where a Jeep Cherokee was totally taken over by security researches while driving at more than 70 mph on a US freeway.[ii]The security implications impact vehicle manufacturers, component manufacturers as well as independent software vendors (ISVs), all of whom are racing to keep up with driver demand.
As applications continue to drive greater functionality across connected devices, concerns over safety and cybersecurity become paramount for manufacturers. The research highlights several cybersecurity approaches being taken by manufacturers to reduce risk across a number of applications-driven connected car systems, including performance, dashboard and smartphone connectivity, as well as driver aids.
Combining driver sentiment with in-depth interviews from organizations such as Fiat-Chrysler, Seat, Scania, Delphi and German industry body ADAC, the paper sheds light on key questions, such as: What are the cybersecurity implications of the connected car? Who is responsible for ensuring the applications are secure? Where does product liability lie? What are the issues and approaches for personal data and privacy?
Key findings include:
Driver downloaded applications pose security challenge. All manufacturers interviewed reported concerns around the security of critical systems being exposed to applications they did not develop, creating situations where safety of the vehicle would ‘leave the control of the manufacturer’.
Manufacturers should be liable for safety of the connected car. 87 percent of drivers polled believe all aspects of safety – including resiliency of applications to cyberattack – rests with manufacturers, regardless of whether an in-car application was developed by a software company or the car manufacturers themselves.
Manufacturers do not feel they need to worry about driver data privacy. However, 46 percent of drivers are concerned over this issue, particularly as applications continue to integrate. For example, as navigation system evolve to find, reserve and pay for parking automically, the potential for leaking credit card information and other personal data arises.
“What we’re seeing happen in the auto industry is a microcosm of what’s happening in financial services, healthcare and virtually every other sector – applications are not created with security in mind, creating a major area of risk,” said Chris Wysopal, CTO, Veracode. “Exposing a car to the Internet makes it vulnerable to cyberattack due to poorly written software, which could render the car unstable or dangerous. Building a secure application development program is a significant challenge for manufacturers, which is compounded by the need to do so under the microscope of government regulated safety standards and liability concerns.”
“Manufacturers cannot afford to be complacent when it comes to application and overall system security within vehicles,” said Duncan Brown, research director, European Security Practice, IDC. “The positive implication from our research is that the market for downloadable applications is large, spanning the entire market of drivers of all ages and genders. Manufacturers should increase their focus on how to secure applications that enhance car functionality, such as the many driving aids currently being developed.”
The joint IDC/Veracode white paper with more detailed statistics and conclusions from the study can be found at https://info.veracode.com/whitepaper-idc-connected-car-research.html.
Methodology
IDC, on behalf of Veracode, conducted in-depth interviews with leading vehicle manufacturers and automotive industry representatives, including ADAC (leading German automotive industry association), Bosch, Delphi, Fiat-Chrysler, Scania and Seat.
Further research was conducted into the perceptions of vehicle drivers based equally in the UK and Germany. IDC conducted 1072 interviews across a broad range of demographics (age, gender, location). The research and interviews were conducted in November and December 2015.
[i] IDC Worldwide Semiannual Internet of Things Spending by Vertical Market 2015–2019 Forecast, December 2015 [ii] Wired, 2015 http://www.wired.com/2015/07/hackers-remotely-kill-jeep-highway/veracode.com
