Self-driving vehicles have been a topic of discussion for many years, and as technology advances, the possibility of them becoming a reality is becoming more and more likely. However, with this new technology comes new security concerns. One of the most significant security issues with self-driving vehicles is the theft of personal data. As these vehicles become more connected to the internet and other devices, the risk of hackers stealing personal information increases. In a study conducted by the University of Michigan, researchers found that self-driving vehicles are vulnerable to cyber attacks, and hackers could potentially steal personal data such as credit card information, social security numbers, and even medical records (Koscher et al., 2010). This is a significant concern for consumers who are already wary of sharing their personal information online.

Another security issue with self-driving vehicles is the lack of “Designed-in” security. In a study conducted by the University of California, researchers found that many self-driving vehicles lack the necessary security features to protect against cyber attacks (Checkoway et al., 2011). This is because many of these vehicles were not designed with security in mind, and as a result, they are vulnerable to attacks. This lack of security could potentially lead to accidents or even fatalities if a hacker gains control of the vehicle.

Mobile application security vulnerabilities are also a significant concern with self-driving vehicles. In a study conducted by the University of California, researchers found that many mobile applications used to control self-driving vehicles are vulnerable to cyber attacks (Koscher et al., 2011). This is because many of these applications do not have the necessary security features to protect against attacks. Hackers could potentially gain access to the vehicle’s controls through the mobile application, leading to accidents or even fatalities.

In addition to these security concerns, there are also concerns about the reliability of self-driving vehicles. In a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, researchers found that self-driving vehicles are more likely to be involved in accidents than traditional vehicles (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2018). This is because these vehicles rely on sensors and cameras to navigate, and these sensors can be affected by weather conditions or other factors. This is a significant concern for consumers who are considering purchasing a self-driving vehicle.

In conclusion, self-driving vehicles have the potential to revolutionize the way we travel, but they also come with significant security concerns. These concerns include the theft of personal data, the lack of “Designed-in” security, and mobile application security vulnerabilities. It is essential for manufacturers to address these concerns and ensure that self-driving vehicles are safe and secure for consumers to use. As technology continues to advance, it is likely that new security concerns will arise, and it is crucial for manufacturers to stay ahead of these concerns to ensure the safety of consumers.

References:

Checkoway, S., McCoy, D., Kantor, B., Anderson, D., Shacham, H., Savage, S., & Kohno, T. (2011). Comprehensive experimental analyses of automotive attack surfaces. In Proceedings of the 20th USENIX conference on Security (pp. 6-6).

Koscher, K., Czeskis, A., Roesner, F., Patel, S., Kohno, T., Checkoway, S., & Shacham, H. (2010). Experimental security analysis of a modern automobile. In Proceedings of the 2010 IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy (pp. 447-462).

Koscher, K., Czeskis, A., Roesner, F., Patel, S., Kohno, T., Checkoway, S., & Shacham, H. (2011). Security and privacy for augmented reality systems. In Proceedings of the 2011 IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy (pp. 1-15).

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2018). Automated vehicles for safety. Retrieved from https://www.nhtsa.gov/technology-innovation/automated-vehicles-safety.