Cyber Risks On The Roadways

Newer vehicles on the market offer us an ever-increasing number of enhancements to make our driving experience easier and safer. But along with those features comes a greater risk of cyber hacking and identity theft. As we continue to advance toward fully autonomous vehicles, these risks are sure to increase exponentially. Let’s discuss how the industry is addressing the increased risk and what coverages are available.

U.S. automakers are not unaware of the risks and are learning from international research what can happen before autonomous vehicles fully take over our roadways. For example, in 2016 a UK-based Nissan Leaf was hacked all the way from Australia. At the time, the NissanConnect smartphone app only required a car’s vehicle identification number (VIN) to take control. By copying and pasting URL codes into an Internet browser, the researcher was able to access details such as where and when the car had recently been driven. These type of hacks may not cause havoc on the road, but could possibly lead to your home being burglarized, or even to a coordinated hijacking.