In case you haven't seen this yet, we have officially entered the era of self-driving cars that do not require a driver behind the wheel. This is Waymo. After checking out their application, I was surprised by how many features and preferences are available to tailor the ride to the customer.
However, that convenience also introduces something new to the threat landscape. These cars depend heavily on software, sensors, connectivity, and backend systems, which means there are more systems that have to be secured. Can you imagine being inside one while a threat actor somewhere across the world manages to exploit a critical system? That possibility alone makes autonomous vehicles an interesting cybersecurity topic.
From a privacy perspective, the question becomes even bigger. How much of our privacy are we actively giving up when using these cars? Cameras, pickup and drop off locations, travel times, preferences, money paid, and ride history can all contribute to a profile of our behavior. One ride might not say much, but repeated trips can reveal where you go, when you travel, and what your routine looks like
Self-driving cars are an exciting step toward the future of transportation, while at the same time introducing new security and privacy concerns that we will have to think about as they become more common.
What are your thoughts? Would you trust a fully self-driving car?