Consumers Fear Security of Personal Data in Connected Car, SA Reports

Though the ability to access smartphone apps in the car is becoming increasingly important, consumers “are concerned about the security of their information when their mobile device is paired to an in-car system,” Strategy Analytics said in a Wednesday report. Most consumers canvassed by the research firm in the U.S., Europe and China “agreed that it is important to be able to connect their smartphone to their in-car system, so they can access apps and music through the in-car controls and displays,” the report said. But more than half said they “do not want their vehicle to collect driving data, even if it remains anonymous,” it said. “Most want to be assured that no data from their phone will remain on the in-car system after it is disconnected.” Consumers by and large are “aware that they have little choice in giving up part of their privacy in order to live in a more enriched world with connected devices,” said Strategy Analytics. “Providing personal data will be less a concern if consumers could know how their data will be used, why it needs to be used, who will have access to it, for what purposes, and that they will have the full control of the data access.” Elsewhere on the connected-car front, Public Knowledge plans a Tuesday briefing on Capitol Hill on connected-car cybersecurity, the nonprofit said Wednesday. The event at 11:30 a.m. in G11 Dirksen is on “Cybersecurity Vulnerability in Connected Vehicles.” Speakers include Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and discussion of "threats posed to our privacy and cybersecurity as revealed by researcher Alex Kreilein of SecureSet in his latest report, ‘Security Considerations for Connected Vehicles and Dedicated Short Range Communications,’” or DSRC, PK said. "Existing DSRC technology makes cars easily identifiable, permitting tracking by third-parties and making DSRC-enabled vehicles targets for hackers." Using "DSRC spectrum and devices to support commercial applications dramatically increases the risk" of cyberattacks and identity theft, the group said.