Cyberattacks on Cars Pose Life-Threatening Risks, Warns QNX
Translated & summarized from Calcalist by baba
Cyberattacks on connected cars could endanger lives by compromising safety systems like braking and steering, QNX warns. The automotive cybersecurity market is expected to grow significantly by 2030. A key challenge is isolating safety software from user-facing systems, especially as automakers integrate more software. While recent attacks have targeted importers, the future threat involves direct vehicle system compromise, potentially causing physical harm.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Cyberattacks on connected cars could compromise safety systems, leading to accidents and fatalities.
- The automotive cybersecurity market is projected to reach $14-24 billion by 2030.
- QNX warns of the challenge in separating safety software from user-facing systems in vehicles.
- A recent ransomware attack targeted Israeli car importer Colmobil's IT systems.
- Future cyber threats could involve direct compromise of vehicle onboard computers, causing physical harm.
Cyberattacks targeting connected vehicles could compromise critical safety systems like braking and steering, potentially leading to accidents and fatalities, according to QNX, a software and operating system developer specializing in automotive safety. QNX, owned by BlackBerry, supplies major automakers including Audi, BMW, Volvo, and Toyota.
Amid rising threats, the automotive cybersecurity market is projected to grow from approximately $8.8 billion today to between $14 billion and $24 billion by 2030, a QNX analysis reveals. Philippe Hatcher, QNX's Head of Automotive Engineering, highlighted the challenge of preventing user-facing software, such as infotainment systems, from jeopardizing safety-critical software. He noted that these systems traditionally operated on separate hardware, but automakers are increasingly seeking to reduce R&D costs through software integration.
QNX's analysis comes as "Calcalist" reported on a ransomware attack by the SETTRA hacker group against Israeli car importer Colmobil. While that attack targeted the importer's IT systems, QNX emphasizes the future threat lies in compromising the vehicles' onboard computers themselves. The potential damage to the automotive industry from cyberattacks on manufacturers, charging infrastructure, dealerships, or parts suppliers could be immense, causing significant disruptions and financial losses, as demonstrated by the attack on Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) that halted production. However, QNX stresses that unlike financially motivated attacks, compromising a vehicle's internal computer systems could result in direct physical harm to occupants and other road users.