This Security Wall Will Turn Your Smart Car Hack-Proof

                Scientists have created a security protocol to protect smart cars – equipped with GPS, Bluetooth and internet connections – from being hacked. A car can be fully controlled by the hackers if it is not protected. Researchers also built an experimental environment that simulates communication system in a smart car, which allow the security protocol to be tested through simulations. The research focused on protection of the Controller Area Network (CAN), an internal communication system in vehicles. They are proposing to add a layer of security, so if an unauthorized person accesses it they still would not be able to control your vehicle. The security protocol protects CAN in two ways. Firstly, it authenticates message sent through the network by creating an authentication code. This code allows nodes on the network to differentiate between a valid message and an attacker’s message. The second feature protects against replay attacks, when a hacker attempts to breach the network by repeatedly sending messages. The protocol uses a times tamp to calculate when the network last received message.