KoolSpan U: Weekly Word Wednesday – Controller Area Network (CAN) Bus

With connected cars becoming the way of the future, it’s easy to wonder how drivers will keep their vehicles safe from hackers finding their way into the internal computer of the car. And recently, it was revealed by Spanish security researchers that a $20 device can be connected to a car’s internal network, or its CAN bus, and assert commands via a Bluetooth connection that accelerate speed through the pedal, or change the steering direction. This is obviously a very dangerous prospect for drivers and everyone on the roads.

To better understand how this type of hacking is possible, it is important to identify the capabilities a vehicle’s CAN bus. Also known as a vehicle bus, the CAN bus is designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to connect and communicate with one another within a vehicle through sensors in real-time, without a host computer. This type of network allows for the consistent monitoring of systems due to various sensors. And it’s not just used in automobiles these days, as CAN bus networks can also be applied to a various array of communication systems for intelligent devices.

All the more reason why hardware security will be needed to protect not just mobile devices, but all connected devices, from hardware-based attacks. To find out more about how you can protect your device, check out our TrustChip technology.

Francis Knott

Francis Knott has over 17 years of mobility, technology, interactive media, software and healthcare experience. Mr Knott is an expert at building companies, growing revenue and launching and marketing new products. In the past, he has worked in software and product development, mobile social media, and mobile applications development.