2023 was most likely the anticipated year for when we were kids as we expected the skies to be filled with flying vehicles. Clearly, we were pretty ambitious. However, the captivating world of Tesla’s futuristic development brings car superfans like myself a glimmer of hope that one day on my way to work there will be a car hovering above me. The remarkable electric features of Tesla cars mark a true embodiment of innovation and sustainability. But its uniqueness has led many of us (guilty as charged) to overlook one of this year’s biggest cyber security trends: automotive hacking.
Unleashing the Electric Revolution
Tesla has become the trailblazer in electric vehicles as it has revolutionised the automotive industry with its sleek designs, nippy acceleration and cutting-edge technology. It is always a bittersweet feeling to sit behind a Tesla whilst waiting for a red light in awe of its appeal, all the while my second-hand dinosaur of a car that is very much in need of a service shudders on. Every single one of Tesla’s models has grabbed the attention of every passerby, even those who can’t stand the mere existence of Elon Musk. Despite having enough money to fly to space, even Musk could not protect his fleet of Tesla from hacking.
The Automotive Hacking Odyssey
Once just a mechanical masterpiece, the car has now become a shiny (and expensive) playground for tech-savvy hackers. Recently, researchers from the French cybersecurity firm, Synacktiv, won 350,000 and a new Tesla Model 3 by hacking the vehicle. At the security conference, the researchers hacked into the gateway and infotainment subsystems of the vehicle in just minutes. Although a big success for the security firm who gets to take home a new Tesla, not quite sure how they’re going to share that prize though, it underscores the importance of cybersecurity.
Tesla’s Vigilant Response
If I worked at Tesla and someone hacked the car I helped design in a matter of minutes, well I think maybe resigning and looking for new expertise would be best for all those involved. The company understands the evolving battle against automotive hacking and moves to making swift action to prevent this and build brand trust. By continuously evolving their over-the-air (OTA) feature that enables regular software updates to their vehicles, it helps keep their fleet one step ahead in the cybersecurity realm.
Next time someone asks me why I don’t own a Tesla yet I will definitely be saying it’s down to cybersecurity concerns and not because my paycheck doesn’t budget it. Will you be trading in your simple mechanical-minded vehicle for a supped-up electric Megamind? Remember electric vehicles are pretty silent so if someone has hacked yours and it’s driving away during the night you probably aren’t going to hear it over your partner snoring!
