CISO MAG July 2017 | Page 10

BUZZ of road accidents and reduce preventive maintenance costs. Incorporating connectivity technologies can also reduce 62 percent of all trucking costs, it is estimated. A REAL THREAT Vehicle hacking isn’t just a theory or seen only in Hollywood movies. In 2016, Nissan had to shut down its proprietary app NissanConnected EV for its Leaf line-up after it was found that hackers could access the cars’ climate control and other battery operated features to drain the batteries. Also, in 2015, automaker Fiat Chrysler had to issue a recall for almost 1.4 million vehicles after 10 CISO MAG | July 2017 researchers Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek of Wired demonstrated a wireless hack on Jeep Grand Cherokee, taking over the controls of the dashboard, steering wheel, powertrain, and even the brakes. Recently, WikiLeaks released documents blowing a whistle on the CIA suggesting journalist Michael Hastings’s fatal car crash was triggered by a car hack. In 2013, Hastings died after the car he was driving abruptly sped up and crashed into a tree. The media has largely covered this idea as a fringe conspiracy theory, but many of the details are consistent with how a hacked car could behave. REGULATORS, INDUSTRY RESPOND Autonomous vehicles are no longer a pipe dream and all vehicles soon will come with smartphone connectivity embedded into their systems. Fortunately, all manufacturers prioritize the satisfaction and safety of their customers. The burgeoning field of automotive cybersecurity will grow