Under the hood: The battle for security, safety & privacy in a connected vehicle world

As vehicle technologies rapidly evolve, so too do the threats that target them. Building trust, resilience, and confidence in our connected ecosystems has become a critical challenge, particularly as connectivity becomes a defining feature of modern vehicles. While this connectivity delivers unprecedented convenience, it also introduces new and often poorly understood risks. 

This presentation explores the expanding attack surface of the modern connected vehicle, examining the components that pose the greatest security, safety, and privacy risks. It takes the audience under the hood of a vehicle’s telematics control unit, the gateway that connects vehicles to the outside world via cellular networks and highlights how this access can be leveraged by attackers. 

Taking an evidence-based approach, the session dives deep into privacy challenges by analysing real data recovered from Australia’s best-selling vehicle for the past three years: the Ford Ranger. This analysis sheds light on the types of data being collected, stored, and potentially exposed, and what that means for drivers, organisations, and regulators alike. 

Beyond the vehicle itself, the presentation examines the broader implications for local, state, and federal governments, as well as industries such as mining, agriculture, and fleet operations where connected vehicles are deeply embedded in daily operations. The risks extend from employers and critical infrastructure all the way to individuals at home. 

The session concludes by exploring practical mitigation strategies that could be adopted in Australia, alongside a look at how other regions around the world are responding to the growing security, safety, and privacy challenges of connected vehicles.