Automotive and digital security vulnerabilities

Security concerns regarding digital and automotive technologies have intensified. Initial reports highlighted vulnerabilities in digital accounts, where the FIDO Alliance has promoted passkeys as ‘phishing-resistant and secure by design’ to counter rising attacks. Concurrently, an ADAC study found that nearly half of 850 tested car models were susceptible to radio signal relay attacks, allowing thieves to start engines within a minute.

As vehicle technology evolves, the automotive sector faces scrutiny over cybersecurity and safety. Experts have raised concerns regarding potential ‘kill switches’ that could allow manufacturers to remotely disable vehicles, alongside risks involving the transmission of sensor and camera data to foreign servers.

In response, the European Union is proposing modernized vehicle inspection directives. These changes aim to expand technical checks to include electronic safety systems and driver assistance calibration, while allowing inspectors to deny certification if safety recalls are ignored.