Security must drive design of driverless cars

Car manufacturers worldwide are using more advanced technologies in vehicles to increase connectivity with Internet-enabled devices to reap the full benefits of automation. In Singapore, this concept has already been brought to life. Driverless cars have been built by various research institutions, such as the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) and Nanyang Technological University.

Recently, the Government announced the launch of a public driverless vehicle trial at Gardens by the Bay, aimed at gaining valuable insights to help prepare for the onset of autonomous vehicles in the city state.

However, better interconnectivity among devices and vehicles can cause some serious cyber-security issues. With the Internet of Things (IoT), more devices are connected over the cloud, which means any weakness found within the network can be easily exploited by attackers. They may be able to conduct a complete remote hijacking of a moving vehicle for malicious purposes. This is especially appealing to cyber-espionage or terrorism groups, as hacking a system can mean instant access and control over an entire fleet of vehicles.