OTA updates and honeypots currently best automotive anti-virus

Anti-virus software (AVS) is by no means a new concept. In one shape or another, home and work PCs have been protected by AVS since the late 1980s and, for the past 40 years, this has largely been as far as the automotive industry has needed to pay attention to AVS. But as vehicles worldwide are becoming increasingly connected, more questions are being asked about how to protect these fleets of roaming computers.

While there are similarities in PC and automotive AVS, considering that protecting the automobile also entails protecting its owners and pedestrians, the consequences of an automobile letting down its guard are potentially much more severe. This problem is further exacerbated by the challenges of keeping automotive AVS up to date, not just when the vehicle leaves a showroom, but 15 years down the line when it is still on the road and operational.