Connected Cars May Be Safer, But Are They More Secure?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated that cars capable of communicating with each other could make their way to the roads by the early 2020's. The organization said that the new technology will likely save thousands of lives by making the roads safer and easier to navigate. However, although the technology could make car journeys significantly less risky, the communications systems could create a major security problem.Security RisksAs connected cars will be emitting a signal that gives a particular car's location, many are worried about the security implications of broadcasting that type of information. With concerns about cybercrime and privacy violations on the rise, many consumers might be reluctant to buy a car with communication capabilities. Creating A Safe PlatformThe only way connected cars will be accepted into mainstream use is by creating a platform that keeps people's data safe. In order to do this, carmakers have begun to put together a system that will encrypt cars' location data similarly to transactions on a bank website or online shopping platform. Information exchanged between two cars would be encrypted to prevent that data from being freely accessed. CAMPCompanies like Ford Motor Co (NYSE: F), General Motors Co (NYSE: GM) and Audi AG are all working together to make connected cars as safe as possible and minimize the risk of cybercrime. Automakers from across the globe have formed the Crash Avoidance Metrics Partnership consortium in order to freely share information regarding connected car systems and build a secure platform that consumers can trust.Hacking ConcernsDespite their best efforts, many worry that CAMP will be unable to build a totally secure network. Several high profile attacks on companies like Target Corp (NYSE: TGT) and Sony (NYSE: SNE) have proven that hackers are able to break into networks that were thought to be secure.