The Case for FOTA in AV Data Security

Firmware over-the-air data transmission helps OEMs drive secure vehicle autonomy.

Cars are increasingly becoming mobile living spaces. That's why the subject of security is so important for OEMs and suppliers. When a car becomes a personal mobile device that the owner uses for communications and personalizes with apps, it becomes vulnerable to opportunities for manipulation.

Hacker attacks on connected cars have already made the headlines. In one example, a wireless connection was used to access the CAN bus that controls many network units in the vehicle. This allowed the hackers to remotely control the car and switch off the engine while it was in use. Other criminals have managed to gain control over brakes, door locks, air conditioners and windshield wipers. This is hardly surprising, since more and more vehicles have interfaces for exchanging data with the outside world.