Cyberattacks in 2021 affected people at every level, from major organisations to individual mobile phone owners. The same cybersecurity issues that threaten non-profits are also risks for transportation companies.
This is one of the key insights from BlackBerry Limited’s 2022 Annual Threat Report on cybersecurity.
“Criminals are working out how to target us better,” states Eric Milam, Vice President of Research and Intelligence, BlackBerry.
Auto Futures has been talking to Sarah Tatsis, SVP, IVY Platform Development, at BlackBerry, about the threat of cyberattacks to OEMS, and the new approaches that can help protect drivers and passengers.
“As OEMs look to serve consumer demand for connectivity, vehicles are effectively becoming computers on wheels. Cybercriminals know this, and they are coming. It will be important for automakers and security developers to continue to work collaboratively on new holistic approaches to address the ever-changing threat landscape. This includes incorporating best in class cybersecurity practices, similar to how we protect other critical infrastructure,” says Tatsis.
BlackBerry says new approaches are needed to combat the rising number of cyberattacks. However, there are a number of cybersecurity innovations that offer stronger protection for organisations.
“Software supply chain security will be more important than ever in 2022, following attacks last year, and new challenges like quantum computing and 5G targeting will require new approaches for customers. The entire cyber community must recognise these threats, and come together to predict and tackle them, in the automotive industry and beyond,” she says.
As vehicles become more connected, protection from attacks is becoming ever more important for the auto industry.
“Cyber attacks to vehicular systems are a definite and real threat to drivers and passengers, since vehicle cabins are continuously evolving to serve consumers with all-in-one communication, information, productivity and entertainment hubs. In 2022, BlackBerry’s QNX software will be embedded in over 200 million vehicles worldwide, nullifying threats and ensuring the safety of passengers and drivers, empowering automakers to reach for the data-driven future of automotive,” explains Tatsis.
“OEMs can use AI solutions such as BlackBerry Protect to leverage artificial intelligence, detecting and preventing attacks before they can be executed. It also prevents users from opening URLs and visiting spoofing websites designed to mimic legitimate pages in order to gather confidential or personal information,” she adds.
BlackBerry’s IVY platform has been built to introduce artificial intelligence (AI) into a vehicle, and supply intelligent insights to enhance driver and passenger experiences. The company’s vehicle data platform, has been co-developed with Amazon Web Services (AWS).
“BlackBerry IVY is welcoming an era of invention to the in-vehicle experience, helping create new applications, services, and opportunities that stay way ahead of the automotive curve, without compromising safety, security, or customer privacy. Data-driven insights are generated in real-time, allowing for accurate prediction of the battery State of Charge (SoC), State of Health (SoH), and projected vehicle range,” explains Tatsis.
A Need For Multiple Layers of Security
Looking ahead, the era of driverless transportation will offer up further challenges for vehicle manufacturers and owners.
“A best practice for autonomous vehicle cybersecurity is an approach initially conceived by the NSA called ‘defense in depth’, which uses multiple layers of security to defend against potential hacks. Even more so than gas-powered vehicles, this is essential for EVs given the sheer number of connections they utilise – starting with home and public charging stations, to connected infotainment systems and GPS communicating with external data sources,” concludes Tatsis.
Keyword: How OEMs can Address the ‘Ever-Changing Cyberthreat Landscape’ – 2022 BlackBerry Annual Threat Report