BT's new ethical hacking service to secure connected cars

NEW DELHI: British Telecom (BT) has launched 'BT Assure Ethical Hacking for Vehicles', a new security service developed to test the exposure of connected vehicles to cyber-attacks and help all market players develop security solutions.

Connected vehicles, which can be passenger cars as well as trucks, buses, bulldozers or any other type of commercial vehicles, rely on a variety of connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, 3G or 4G mobile data links, Bluetooth and other wireless technologies.

"The proliferation of the latest technologies raises concerns about the ability of hackers to gain access and control to the essential functions and features of those vehicles and for others to use information on drivers’ habits for commercial purposes without the drivers’ knowledge or consent,” the company said in a statement.

“As with all other devices plugged into the 'Internet of Things', security and integrity of data is of critical importance to prevent unauthorised access or remote hijacking of a vehicle,” it said.

"In a few years’ time, the majority of vehicles that are produced will be connected to the Internet or other networks, either for navigation, maintenance, cooperative driving or entertainment purposes, and the driver will expect the same usability he is used to from his smartphone. This bears complex challenges for the automotive industry, as cars are equipped with a number of embedded systems that have not been designed to be connected to the outside world.

The industry needs to join forces, including with suppliers, IT security specialists and certification bodies, to agree on a common approach to interfaces and security standards for the Connected Car,” said Udo Steininger, Head of Assisted and Automated Driving at TÜV SÜD.

Hubertus von Roenne, Vice President Global Industry Practices at BT Global Services, said, “Vehicles are now connected devices, confronting manufacturers and suppliers with a whole new world of security challenges. For example, we have seen cars infected with malware while connected to a power charging station – because nobody had expected this would be possible. We use the expertise and knowledge of our Ethical Hacking consultants to identify these vulnerabilities – before others do."