Britain’s first “hack-proof” car has been developed to protect motorists from digital attacks by cybercriminals.
Technology designed to prevent hackers from taking control of locking systems, steering or safety features will go on display in London tomorrow.
Experts installed internet banking-style security systems, claiming this would make it “almost impossible” to electronically hijack from the outside.
The move comes amid concerns that modern cars packed with internetenabled technology are at risk. This technology includes enhanced digital mapping for satellite navigation, collision sensors attached to the front and rear, keyless ignitions and connectivity with mobile devices.
Trials of driverless vehicles are expected to start on public roads within 12 months. However, the development has sparked warnings from security experts that shortfalls in safety features could leave cars open to criminals.
Frazer-Nash Research, a British technology firm, will reveal technology that is designed to make vehicles impervious to hacking. It uses multiple firewalls and unique data keys that cannot be cloned for powerful defences. The system, due to be presented at the Connected Cars ’16 exhibition at Olympia, has been installed in the zero-emission Ecotive Metrocab but could be adapted for any modern car.
In April John Carlin, the US assistant attorney general for national security, warned that rogue states could kill remotely through a car.
Last summer almost 1.5 million Jeep Cherokees were recalled in the US after security researchers showed how they could be hacked through their entertainment systems.
Greg Starns, executive director for software development at Frazer-Nash, said: “These additional safety measures will help protect drivers and passengers from the increase in malicious hacking we are seeing on the roads today.” Noamaan Siddiqi, the general manager, said: “You see security like this on your internet banking system. Banks have been very progressive at adopting multiple-layer authentication, separate firewalls and segregated networks.”
The system uses three distinct security features.
First, physical security keys must be plugged into the car’s software systems before it can be reprogrammed, with each key carrying a unique code.
Second, it uses segregated internal vehicle computers that are each separated by firewalls. This makes it much harder for hackers to send spoof messages and access safety critical elements of the vehicle because they have to pass through up to nine different networks.
Third, all data transmitted into the car is protected by a triple authentication system — measures similar to those used by banks to protect online accounts.
Mr Starns said that a hacker would have to get through nine layers and five firewalls. “It is impossible to make a system 100 per cent secure but the more layers you have the more difficult you make it,” he said.