Global concern over cybersecurity

59 per cent of connected car owners are concerned the car they own could be cyber-attacked.

As the number of connected cars on the road grows, their interaction with the environment around them and other connected devices becomes important. New features that both simplify or amplify the car driving experience can introduce vulnerabilities that hackers could abuse. The cybersecurity challenge presented above could be a major issue in the current race for car manufacturers to build and develop the most connected vehicle. A recent survey by Irdeto, the Global Consumer Connected Car Survey, examined consumer ownership and purchasing plans for connected vehicles, awareness of cyberattacks targeting connected cars and cybersecurity concerns for both connected cars and autonomous vehicles. The research was conducted online late last year and surveyed 8,354 adults, aged 18 and over, in six countries, including Canada, China, Germany, Japan, UK and US. The key findings from the survey included: Consumers are aware that a connected vehicle has the potential to be targeted by a cyberattack. Of the consumers surveyed, 85 per cent indicated that they believe any connected car has the potential to be targeted by a cyberattack. In addition, the survey found that 59% of connected car owners are concerned that their vehicle could targeted by a cyberattack. The survey results also found that most consumers are aware that autonomous vehicles introduce security risks, with only 12 per cent stating that they don’t have any cybersecurity concerns about buying an autonomous vehicle. Of those consumers who plan on purchasing a vehicle, more than half indicated that they are likely to research if the car they are buying is able to protect itself against a cyberattack. These results indicate that cybersecurity may be a key factor for many consumers when they are purchasing their next vehicle. China led all markets in the number of consumers who are planning on buying a connected car, with 67 per cent indicating that they either own a connected car or plan on buying one in the future. Consumers in Japan were the least likely to buy a connected car, with only 22 per cent stating that they own or will buy a connected car. In addition, millennials, aged 18-24 are the most likely to buy a connected car in the future, with nearly half surveyed indicating they will purchase a connected vehicle. However, as respondents increased in age, the desire to purchase a connected car in the future decreased. Only 20 per cent of consumers aged 55 and over indicated that they would buy a connected car in the future. It is safe to say that cybersecurity is on the mind of consumers who plan on buying an autonomous vehicle, with most consumers across the globe having at least one concern, if not several. Automakers need to start thinking about how they implement cybersecurity into autonomous vehicles before adoption rates take off.  Click here to read the Global Consumer Connected Car Survey.