Consumers in China Want Connected Cars but Lack Cybersecurity Awareness

Irdeto today released China’s findings from its global survey on consumer attitudes towards cybersecurity in connected cars. 67% of consumers in China either already own a connected car or have plans to buy one in the future, which is considerably higher than the global average of 40%. However, there is an overall lack of awareness of cybersecurity threats, with only 77% of Chinese consumers believing that a connected car has the potential to be targeted by a cyberattack, compared to the global average of 85%. This attitude changes once consumers become connected car owners – 83% of Chinese consumers who already own a connected car are concerned about cyberattacks, significantly higher than the global average of 59%.

As the number of connected cars on the road grows, and autonomous cars increasingly become a reality rather than the product of a science fiction film, the ways in which vehicles interact with their surroundings and other connected devices becomes incredibly important. However, enhanced features and functionality that comes with connected vehicles also introduce additional vulnerabilities that hackers will exploit.

With a strong demand for in-car connectivity from consumers in China, automakers need to be ready to address these cybersecurity concerns to capture China’s current and growing appetite for connected. Moreover, Chinese respondents who intend to purchase a car displayed the highest likelihood (71%) of researching a car’

New global
survey by Irdeto finds that 67% of consumers in China own a connected car or
have plans to purchase one in the future, but many are unaware of cyberattack
potential

BEIJING – 5
December 2017 – A new survey by Irdeto, the world leader in
digital platform security, found that 67% of consumers in China either already own a
connected car or have plans to buy one in the future. This is considerably
higher than the global average* of 40%. However, the Irdeto Global Consumer
Connected Car Survey also indicated an overall lack of awareness of cybersecurity
threats, with only 77% of Chinese consumers believing that a connected car has
the potential to be targeted by a cyberattack, compared to the global average
of 85%.

Consumers in
China who already own connected cars** were found to be much more aware of the
dangers than those who do not. The survey found that 83% of Chinese consumers
who already own a connected car are concerned about cyberattacks. This is a
significantly higher percentage compared to the global average of 59%. In light
of this, OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers need to be ready to address these
cybersecurity concerns to capture China’s current and growing appetite for
connected cars.

Respondents in
China who intend to purchase a car displayed the highest likelihood (71%) of
researching a car’s ability to protect itself against a cyberattack, compared
to the global average of 53%. This indicates that cybersecurity will be a key
factor for many consumers in China when purchasing their next vehicle. OEMs and
Tier 1 suppliers will need to make security a priority so that they are not
perceived as a brand that does not take cybersecurity seriously.

“These findings
demonstrate a demand for in-car connectivity from consumers in China, however
this needs to be matched by robust security measures to protect against
cyberattacks,” said Chen Qi, Senior Director of Government Relations
and Business Development, Irdeto. “Consumer education of cybersecurity
risks is a must. By implementing a security in-depth approach across the
vehicle lifecycle, right from manufacturing to vehicle service, automakers will
not only stay one step ahead of hackers, but show consumers that they are
committed to their safety.”

Although 83% of
connected car owners** in China are concerned about hacking, it is not the only
type of future automobile that they perceive as being a target of hackers.
Chinese consumers overall are also concerned that autonomous vehicles could be
hacked, giving someone without permission the ability to unlock the car to
steal it and/or personal belongings in the car (47%); giving someone without
permission the ability to control certain functions of the car (44%); and
giving someone without permission the ability to drive it remotely (42%). Only
7% stated that they do not have any cybersecurity concerns about buying an
autonomous vehicle.

“Customers today
may not understand the depth and breadth of connected car capabilities, but
they are cognizant of in-vehicle security. OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers need to
formulate a multi-layered, defense in-depth cybersecurity strategy that
includes a secure, tamper-proof environment for vehicle software,” said
Daniel Thunberg, Global Head, Connected Transport, Irdeto. “As cars
continually incorporate more software and become more connected and autonomous,
they open up more vulnerabilities and points of entry for hackers to launch a cyberattack.
The brands that commit to cybersecurity to ensure the safety of customers will
prevail.”

To help OEMs
and Tier 1 suppliers guard against cyberattacks targeting connected cars, Cloakware™ for Connected
Transport provides a comprehensive solution that combines
innovative, patented technologies and cybercrime services to address a variety
of security challenges in a car. It also includes strong anti-hacking protection
with renewable security that protects against reverse engineering of vehicle
software.

Click here to
download the full report on the survey results: http://bit.ly/2BCFmxO

Methodology

*based on
respondents from Canada, United States, China, Japan, UK, and Germany

**based on 47
respondents who currently own a connected car in China

The research was
commissioned by Irdeto and conducted online by YouGov from October 27th,
2017 – November 1st, 2017. Total sample size was 1,007 Chinese
adults (aged 18+). The figures have been weighted and are representative of the
online population of adults in China (aged 18+).

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