No cyber security, no autonomous vehicle revolution

A hooded figure tapping away at a computer console and taking control of a mass fleet of autonomous vehicles is certainly not a scene that would be amiss in any big screen spy thriller, but this seemingly far-fetched scenario is becoming increasingly realistic.

As more connected and autonomous technologies begin to make their way onto public roads, whether in fully road legal vehicles or just in a testing capacity, the industry faces a clear dilemma. On the one hand, connected and autonomous technology will lie at the heart of the future of mobility, but, on the other hand, as these vehicles become more intelligent, they become more vulnerable.

By giving vehicles a greater sense of autonomy, the industry is opening the doors to hackers who could – as highlighted by the widely-reported Cherokee Jeep and Tesla ethical hacks – use a company’s products for personal gain. The question at the moment is, what would the worst-case scenario look like, and how can the industry best prepare itself to avoid it? As David Lindgren, Head of IT Architecture and Cyber Security at Zenuity explained to Automotive World, this challenge is vast and varied.