A leading security expert has warned how electric cars can be hacked and pose a threat to both drivers and national security
Director of Information Security and Engagement at the National Cybersecurity Alliance Cliff Steinhauer revealed that there are several risks associated with the growing number electric cars.
Mr. Steinhauer claims that it is possible that the software of some vehicles could be infiltrated and the entire car could be taken over remotely. He emphasized the need for researchers and manufacturers to remain aware of potential vulnerabilities.
In recent years, a growing number of motorists have switched to electric cars from all over the world including China whose cars are becoming increasingly attractive due to their range and affordable prices.
Speak with the sunWarned Mr Steinhauer: “We have seen in research activities that software can completely take over a vehicle and control various functions of the vehicle, so it is certainly a possibility that this could happen.
“We must continue to test to stay aware of these potential vulnerabilities and continue to fix them before they are rolled out en masse. I have seen research reports where software takes over all vehicle functionality, including braking, acceleration, steering and navigation – so the threat exists.”
Mr Steinhauer is not the first expert to raise concerns about the potential security threat that hackers pose to electric cars in Britain.
Last month, security author Edward Lucas warned of the security threat caused by the new wave of cheap products Chinese electric cars and how they could function as “mobile surveillance devices.”
Mr Lucas wrote for Mail+: “The truth is that when it comes to Chinese EVs, our decision makers are still asleep at the wheel. This is a recipe for chaos. Hackers demonstrated years ago how easy it is to disable a single vehicle remotely.
“With the full weight of a state cyberwarfare agency, such attacks would be far more devastating and widespread.”
Mr Lucas's fears were echoed in a report published by the founder of New Kite Data Labs Christopher Balding last year. Mr Balding said it was possible that some systems in these cars, including the brakes, could be disabled.
In his report he says: “Security researchers have been highlighting the risks of hacking key components of electric vehicles for some time. This is slightly different, so that malware in a component provides not only access to the system and operational data, but also control over a specific system. This would mean control over the braking system or the built-in microphone.”
Speaking to the Telegraph about the issue, Mr Balding claimed this technology could allow civil servants to hear what is happening in a car.
He said: “Government groups could listen into a car or compromise its braking system because they would have the car part code from the manufacturer and gain access through pre-known entry points.”
However, when the report was published last year, Mr Balding clarified that at the time he had not seen any evidence that Chinese authorities had taken control of an electric car in China or abroad.