It seems like every day, we hear about another new hacking scandal. These hackers could be accessing your data, spying on you, and even taking control of your vehicle! It is important to care about automotive cybersecurity. This article will discuss how to protect your vehicle from hackers and ensure it is safe for you and your family.
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Purchase a Vehicle with an Embedded Security System
Purchasing a vehicle with a built-in security system is an excellent way to add protection against hackers. These systems are designed to be more secure than basic vehicle software and can even be updated with additional features that protect you from future threats.
For example, when you use the Tesla app, it always asks for confirmation before unlocking or starting your car. This feature provides a higher level of security because if a hacker were able to gain access to your car’s computer remotely, they would not be able to get away with stealing it without permission.
Install Current Anti-virus Software on Devices connected to Vehicle
If someone has hacked into one of your devices, like a laptop or cell phone, there is no guarantee that they did not install some type of virus or malware. Most new vehicles are connected to the internet and can be accessed remotely, which means that these devices should always have up-to-date anti-virus software installed onto them!
Use Virtual Private Networks (VPN) when connecting to your Vehicle
When you connect your device, such as a laptop or cell phone, to your car’s network, make sure you use a VPN. A virtual private network encrypts all data transmitted between two endpoints using advanced encryption technology and security protocols. This protects against hackers trying to intercept information like login usernames and passwords sent over an unsecured Wi-Fi connection. The most well-known example is Apple Incorporation with their iPhone products because they require users to use a VPN like the built-in IPsec when working with wireless networks.
Update your Car’s Software Regularly
Many cars now use what is called over-the-air software updates. These are the equivalent of apps on your phone getting an update to improve performance or fix bugs in the system, but for your car! This feature makes it easy and convenient for automakers to provide their customers with regular security patches if hackers discover any holes or vulnerabilities.
Avoid using Public Wi-Fi Hotspots to reduce Risk of Hacking
Public Wi-Fi hotspots are generally not secure, and hackers can easily intercept any information transmitted over these networks. This means that if you need to use a public internet connection when connecting your device, make sure to avoid sending or receiving sensitive data like passwords or log-in credentials.
Keep your car in the Garage or only Park it on the Street when necessary
Hackers often use GPS technology to track and monitor vehicles. If you park your car on the street, make sure that it is in a well-lit area with other cars/people around, as this provides extra security for possible break-ins. Additionally, if you have a garage, make sure that it is well lit and has good security measurements in place.
Do not leave your Vehicle Unattended for Long Periods of Time
If you are away from your car for an extended period, do not leave anything valuable inside! This includes property documents that can include login credentials to computers/vehicle software and expensive items such as jewelry or electronics. If there is nothing left inside the car, when hackers find out about this information through public records, they may try to break into your garage while you’re gone to steal these valuables. Some people even report having their cars broken into while on vacation because criminals knew they were not home!
Add Regular Maintenance Visits into your Schedule
Following regular vehicle checkups can help keep everything running smoothly after any potential hacking has occurred, as it will be easier to detect if anything looks out of place or suspicious with your computer system. Always have someone who knows what they are doing do these types of inspections because automakers release new software updates all the time, so knowing how to perform them correctly is essential!
Use Caution when connecting USB Devices to your Car
Often, people will connect USB devices to their car like a flash drive. However, this can be dangerous as these drives often store viruses and malware that hackers may use to infect your computer system or vehicle software, leading them to gain access back into the mainframe if not handled properly.
Do you ever wonder how some cars can self-park? Some of them even come with an auto parallel parking feature! This is all possible through advanced technology called “sensor fusion,” where information from different sensors (i.e., cameras) combines for computers inside the vehicle to determine what’s going on around it to respond accordingly without any human input required. Many automakers now include features like this one since they can use machine learning algorithms that help cars find their way through traffic and around obstacles by processing information in real-time.
Also See: Best VPN App for iPhone
However, this feature could also be used against you if someone were to hack into your car’s software because it would give them the ability to control other components inside of your vehicles like braking systems or acceleration! This is why automakers continually update security features on these units so hackers won’t have any success getting access unless they can get past one of the many layers included with each new version release.
If you are concerned about your car being hacked, it is time to take action. Many steps can be taken to ensure the safety of your vehicle and its passengers. We hope this post will provide some helpful tips.
