IRVING, Texas, April 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- BT today
announced the launch of "BT Assure Ethical Hacking for Vehicles", a
new security service developed to test the exposure of connected
vehicles to cyber-attacks and help all market players develop
security solutions.
Connected vehicles – which can be passenger cars as well as
trucks, buses, bulldozers or any other type of commercial vehicle –
rely on a variety of connectivity options, including WiFi, 3G or 4G
mobile data links, Bluetooth and other wireless technologies. These
provide a range of new on-board features and value-added services,
such as predictive systems to bypass traffic jams, reduce carbon
emissions, improve safety and vehicle performance. Vehicles are
also becoming more connected through electronic systems like
navigation, infotainment, and safety monitoring tools.
The proliferation of these technologies raises concerns about
the ability of hackers to gain access and control to the essential
functions and features of those vehicles and for others to use
information on drivers' habits for commercial purposes without the
drivers' knowledge or consent. As with all other devices plugged
into the "Internet of Things", security and integrity of data is of
critical importance to prevent unauthorized access or remote
hijacking of a vehicle.
BT has a strong, award-winning, global team of security
specialists, including "ethical hackers", who provide a
standardized method to test systems by imitating hacker attacks,
reporting possible vulnerabilities and providing recommendations.
BT is now extending that expertise to advise vehicle manufacturers,
insurance companies and other players in the automotive industry,
with the aim of identifying and fixing vulnerabilities before the
keys of a new vehicle are handed to a proud owner. To ensure the
car remains safe throughout its lifetime, BT will also offer
ongoing support to maintain security against new and evolving
threats.
BT Assure Ethical Hacking for Vehicles includes a range of tests
targeted at the "attack surfaces" of the vehicle. These cover
interfaces that are accessible inside the car, such as Bluetooth
links, USB ports, or the DVD drive, as well as external connections
such as links to mobile networks or power plugs. BT looks at the
end-to-end security by testing and verifying all the systems that
interact with the connected vehicle. The ultimate objective is to
identify vulnerabilities that would allow unauthorized alteration
of configuration settings or that would introduce malware into the
car. These remote systems can include the laptops of maintenance
engineers, infotainment providers, and other supporting
systems.
Udo Steininger, Head of Assisted
and Automated Driving at TUV SUD, said, "In a few years' time, the
majority of vehicles that are produced will be connected to the
Internet or other networks, either for navigation, maintenance,
cooperative driving or entertainment purposes, and the driver will
expect the same usability he is used to from his smartphone. This
bears complex challenges for the automotive industry, as cars are
equipped with a number of embedded systems that have not been
designed to be connected to the outside world. The industry needs
to join forces, including with suppliers, IT security specialists
and certification bodies, to agree on a common approach to
interfaces and security standards for the Connected Car."
Hubertus von Roenne, Vice
President Global Industry Practices at BT Global Services, said,
"Vehicles are now connected devices, confronting manufacturers and
suppliers with a whole new world of security challenges. For
example, we have seen cars infected with malware while connected to
a power charging station – because nobody had expected this would
be possible. We use the expertise and knowledge of our Ethical
Hacking consultants to identify these vulnerabilities – before
others do. BT has decades of experience in securing connected
devices and embedded systems across various industries and we are
very proud to now offer that experience to the automotive
industry."
For further information:
All news can be accessed
at our web sites:
http://www.globalservices.bt.com/us/en/news and
http://www.btplc.com/news
About TUV SUD
Headquartered in Munich, Germany, and founded in 1866, TUV SUD
is one of the world's leading technical service organizations, with
more than 20,000 employees across 800 locations, partnering with
clients wherever they are in the world. More information on
www.tuv-sud.com
About BT
BT is one of the world's leading providers of
communications services and solutions, serving customers in more
than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision
of networked IT services globally; local, national and
international telecommunications services to its customers for use
at home, at work and on the move; broadband, TV and internet
products and services; and converged fixed/mobile products and
services. BT consists principally of five lines of business:
BT Global Services, BT Business, BT Consumer, BT Wholesale and
Openreach.
For the year ended 31 March 2014,
BT Group's reported revenue was £18,287m with reported profit
before taxation of £2,312m.
British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets
of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in
London and New York.
For more information, visit www.btplc.com
For more information on BT's Ethical Hacking expertise, visit
bt.com/btassure/ethical-hacking
BT Security
BT Security is building on 70 years'
experience of helping organizations around the globe and across all
sectors get ahead of the threat curve and reduce the uncertainty
and complexity of security. We provide an end-to-end capability to
help organizations enjoy higher levels of security at a time when
security budgets are not keeping pace with the threat
landscape.
The sophistication of our security operations means that we
think about the assets, the people, and the processes, and combine
these with both network and security intelligence to help our
customers stay ahead of the security risks. BT Security protects
both BT and its customers. These customers are advised by a global
team of 2,000 security practitioners and professional services
consultants. To find out more about BT Security, visit
www.bt.com/security.
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SOURCE BT