Dozens of researchers have now shown that it?s possible to hack in to a car and commandeer its controls. But in the real world, such dire automotive cyberattacks have yet to materialize.
That shouldn?t lull anyone into a false sense of security.  Both terrorists and hackers pose a serious threat to connected automobiles?and as many as three-quarters of new cars are expected to have internet connectivity on board by 2020, according to John Carlin, assistant attorney general for national security at the U.S. Department of Justice. Carlin said many vehicles, including self-driving cars, may soon be in danger of having their systems compromised. Also recognizing the problem, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has just issued Cybersecurity Best Practices for Modern Vehicles, a guide for the auto industry. ?We’re on the cusp of a transformation, and the auto industry is at the front of that transformation,” Carlin said. “We can?t make the mistake again of not building in cybersecurity by design on the front end and preventing espionage or loss of life.? One of the most ominous cyber threats to cars could be the use of ransomware, a type of malware that literally locks users out of their systems?in this case, cars?until they pay a ransom to regain control.
This scourge has affected thousands of computer systems, ranging from individual PCs to networks in hospitals and other institutions. In a typical ransomware attack, the user is lock...