Could our tech laden cars be the next targets for nefarious hackers? (via I am the Cavalry)
The latest cars are full of technological features, such as park assistance, GPS, and collision detection. It's only a matter of time before the vehicles begin driving themselves - and we let them. While these features are cutting edge, consumers don't seem to think about the possibility of hackers attacking the system and causing harm to drivers. It can happen as researchers Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek showed during DEF CON 2013 as they demonstrated how to take over steering controls of a 2010 Toyota Prius and a 2010 Ford Escape. Though it is a matter to be concerned about there's a group of hackers who want to protect you from cybercriminals.
I Am the Cavalry are a non-profit team of engineers, researchers, and hackers who donate their time and knowledge to make cars and other devices connected to computers safe from cybercriminal attacks. The group speaks at security and industry conferences throughout the year to talk about the issue in a recent press release. If they so happen to run into software or hardware bugs, they'll approach the companies and get them involved to get them fixed. Last year, the group sent an open letter to the CEOs of automobile companies urging for an increased focus on security and making them aware of the possible attacks.
The group collaborates, with Open Garages, another non-profit organization that provides workspaces where researchers and mechanics can work on electronic systems. This space also allows mechanics a place to share what they've learned with one another. I Am the Cavalry is currently planning to join the monthly meetings of the Society of Automotive Engineers International (SAE), a global association of engineers in the automotive, commercial vehicle, and aerospace industries. This will allow the organization to come in contact with senior executives working on automotive electronic systems. With this troop of hackers, researchers, and mechanics working together to prevent cyber attacks our cars should be as safe as we want them to be.
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