While the 2016 Connected Car report and the study conducted by International Data Corporation both support the argument of car makers bearing responsibility for connected car security, it also can be suggested that car owners themselves must do their part to keep their vehicles safe from cyber threats. Drivers marvel at the fact that they can download apps to their cars' systems and use those applications to make driving safer and more fun.
However, they should be careful about what kind, and in what manner they purchase and download those apps. Ideally, any applications that they want to buy and use in their cars' systems should be purchased and downloaded from reputable sources like the iStore and Google Play. Any third-party app that they are interested in should first go through a pre-processor to verify that it is safe and not a threat to the car's cyber security.
Additionally, just like they should update their computers and mobile devices, connected car owners should update any connected components in a timely manner. This prompt updating will help keep the software and systems operational, and lower the risk of them being hacked.
The success of the connected car lies in strong cyber security. The reliability and strength in these vehicles' cyber security keep the cars and their growing number of services safe from hackers.
It also instills a high level of trust that is vital for customer retention and loyalty. People who feel confident that they and their families will be safe while driving the cars, and also that their private banking and financial information will be kept secure, are more likely to buy another connected car in the future.
However, given how complex the effort is when it comes to securing these cars as well as the large number of entities involved in keeping the vehicles connected, keeping the connected cars of today secure must be a collaborative effort. By all accounts, the OEMs are in the best position to spearhead this effort. However, they must be willing to accept full responsibility for this enormous task and also be willing to be held accountable if or when things go wrong.
The OEMs bear the final responsibility in keeping these cars safe and secure from cyber hackers. However, this fact does not excuse the responsibility that other involved parties, namely the supplies and car owners themselves, should bear in keeping hackers and identity thieves at bay. Ultimately, the OEMs must make sure that everyone that plays a role in making, owning, or driving connected cars does their part.