If We Want To Enjoy IoT for Cars, We Need to Think About Cybersecurity First
Artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things are two of the most widely talked-about technologies. They are bound to alter the way we interact with things and they may even disrupt daily life. While new technology is almost always a good thing, the problem with dabbling in major communication systems like the internet is that, like most tools, they can be used for both good and bad.
Because of the Internet of Things, cars may soon be able to connect to the internet and communicate through it. This opens up a plethora of possibilities like more precise car tracking and more accurate traffic information. This technology can even pave the way for the Level 5 automation of cars, which will not only allow for the efficient positioning and locating of cars, but it may even help eliminate human error completely.
But, like most ways of communication, the internet is a two-way street. Before we can even begin to dream about a world where cars are able to drive themselves, we first need to be able to ensure that they are as safe as they can possibly be. After all, the purpose of eliminating human error is to mitigate and even prevent accidents from happening. But if we’re unable to patch up the exploits that are sure to be found by hackers and other people with ill intent, we might be trading security for convenience and we’d all be on the losing end. So, what are the security measures that we need to think about first?
Increased visibility
This refers to how well the processes and interactions between vehicles and other devices are monitored. The first line of defense when it comes to cybersecurity will always be that of monitoring. If you aren’t aware of how your devices are interacting with each other, you won’t be able to determine what is a normal process and what can be considered suspicious activity.
Better detection and incident reporting
Detection often entails that your monitoring system is able to discern the difference between normal activity from suspicious activity. But it shouldn’t stop there. In order to build a reliable database of exploits, reports need to be made and analyzed in order to tune systems to be better able to detect malicious attempts to access and disrupt their functionality.
Quarantine and isolation
Another important aspect of cybersecurity that car software engineers need to develop is the ability to isolate and quarantine an incident. While a single connected car getting hacked is bad enough on its own, this danger can be amplified when multiple cars are affected. While security systems may fail, they should at least be able to prevent the exploit from spreading to other cars. The technology isn’t too far off; in fact, it is currently being utilized in the form of a proxy server, which can reroute personal data through a portal other than the actual portal of the user.
The Internet of Things is a double-edged sword. While it can undoubtedly alter the way that we interact with our devices and how they are able to do things for us, it also exposes us to new threats. Cybersecurity should never be overlooked, especially considering how easy it is to access information through the internet. There’s nothing wrong with developing the technology; all I’m really saying is that we need to prioritize safety as well.
This is a collaborative article.
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