Electric vehicles (EVs) leverage advanced technologies to manage power and ensure a stable energy grid. However, their increased connectivity has worried cybersecurity experts due to software and hardware vulnerabilities.
EVs require these modern tools to enhance the driving experience and help manufacturers maintain the car’s software. For instance, Tesla’s recent software updates have improved playback controls and expanded autopilot driving visualizations.
Connectivity has also increased due to vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, thus letting electric cars transmit data to networks. With this information, officials can see when demand peaks for public charging stations and what adjustments are needed.
EV charging stations require drawing power from municipal grids, so V2G innovations balance energy usage using off-peak hours for charging. Industry experts have also found ways to mitigate the energy impact of EV infrastructure by implementing delayed charging at home and workplaces.
While increased connectivity has benefited Tesla owners and other EVs, some drawbacks exist. Increased attack surfaces mean outside threats have an easier time stealing information or manipulating car controls, thus increasing danger. With vehicle-to-everything (V2X) growing, the liability only increases.
Public charging stations are concerning because of their daily use. The United States has over 192,000 public charging ports, and more are arriving this decade. Numerous people use these stations daily and provide payment information to the systems.
If someone hacks a charging station, they could obtain credit card numbers and other sensitive information. While there has yet to be a massive incident, testing has proven the vulnerability of public chargers.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) held its 97th Vehicular Technology Conference in Florence, Italy. At the event, researchers presented their findings on EV cybersecurity and privacy vulnerabilities.
Security experts from the Institute of Informatics and Telematics (IIT) in Pisa, Italy, said EVs face challenges through physical components, communication protocols and other critical parts. Stations with different charging methods have varying levels of security, privacy and vulnerabilities.
Besides stolen payment information, EV owners also risk malware attacks at public charging locations. With these viruses, outside threats compromise security and could gain control of the electric car.
The IEEE says conductive charging is the most susceptible to these threats because of its weak communications protocols. Additionally, IIT researchers report longer charging times increase the risk because of increased attack opportunities.
Faster chargers let EV owners get in and out of charging stations and reduce cybersecurity liabilities. Tesla owners benefit from charging 200 miles in 15 minutes because of the company’s superchargers.
In the worst-case scenarios, these attacks could control physical systems inside the car. EVs rely on software to use cruise control, batteries and other critical components. If compromised, the parts could land in control of outside threats.
This security risk becomes more vital due to the rise of self-driving cars. With autonomous vehicles, the software may have difficulty correcting itself if under attack. These vulnerabilities put passengers and other drivers on the road in danger.
What could Tesla and other EV manufacturers do? The automotive industry must focus on cybersecurity basics to reduce the risk of attacks on chargers and vehicles.
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) provides a framework for enhancing cybersecurity practices. This foundation employs sensible tactics to protect software and hardware.
CMMC Level 1, the minimum requirement for compliance, requires malware protection and incident response to address cybersecurity incidents. Other stringent requirements include security training and auditing. Employees must know best practices and continue learning as the industry evolves.
With new vulnerabilities being introduced, outside threats are becoming more sophisticated and potent. With these protocols in place, electric cars can remain connected and safe.
While some responsibilities fall on manufacturers, others lie with EV owners. Drivers should monitor their connected cars for over-the-air (OTA) updates because they could come with critical security patches. Without updates, the EVs become more vulnerable to attacks.
Experts have weighed in on what they think will help EV infrastructure progress. For instance, Sandia National Laboratories says automakers should strengthen EV owner authentication with plug-and-charge public keys.
Additional fixes include adding alarms to chargers to signal when unauthorized changes occur. While some steps seem small, they go a long way for cybersecurity.
The growth of EV infrastructure means cars and charging stations need enhanced security measures. If automakers and drivers adopt robust tactics, the charging stations and roads can become safer.
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