Smart vehicles are the transportation of the future. Many automakers have developed self-driving vehicles, and others are working on them. Soon, we will see driverless/autonomous vehicles that use traffic and passenger behaviour data to make decisions and navigate roadways. These smart vehicles connect with other roadside services via wireless networks. However, as technology advances, new obstacles emerge. Data collected by autonomous vehicles is vulnerable to cyber-attacks and can be abused in various ways. As a result, automakers are experimenting and creating innovative solutions to safeguard data security and privacy, with Blockchain technology playing a key role. You can take the help of best Blockchain Development Company in USA to get more information and services.
Why is data crucial for self-driving and smart vehicles?
Based on their usage, autonomous vehicles gather data about driving behavior, locations, traffic, and so on. They are more broadly linked to other smart vehicles nearby and roadside infrastructure. Smart vehicles can evaluate data collected to predict road conditions and identify traffic circumstances to make decisions such as required speed, optimum routes, parking spots, etc. Furthermore, smart vehicles readily recognize services on the route (charging stations), construct an instant map of the city, spot incidents nearby, and so on, resulting in a better passenger experience.
Passengers/drivers, auto manufacturers, support service providers, and city and road management authorities will be the primary stakeholders in the automobile data created. Service providers can utilize the data to understand their customers' activities better and improve their service quality. Furthermore, the data assists authorities in properly managing traffic in smart cities.
What are the privacy and security problems raised by vehicular data?
There is a risk of data and privacy breaches as the data-driven mobility ecosystem grows. For a self-driving car to function properly, a massive amount of data must be collected by the car's sensors and stored in a central server or cloud. Data kept in a centralized system is more vulnerable to cyber-attacks, and administering and extending the system will become more complex as more vehicles become available. Many smart vehicles allow customers to control some aspects remotely via cellphones or computers, such as locking and unlocking, temperature controls, etc. This exposes autos to hackers who obtain access to these remotely controlled components.
Vehicle data can be abused in various ways if it falls into the wrong hands. Any data about a person's vehicle use, such as driving directions and destinations, in-vehicle communications, or entertainment services, may reveal sensitive information about a person's life and lead to major crimes such as identity theft. The information gathered may also be utilized for targeted advertising, such as on dedicated screens, mobile devices in the car, or over car speakers, or by routing the vehicle to show passengers commercial activities likely to be of no interest. Because sensitive personal data such as whereabouts, addresses, driving habits, and so on are acquired, automakers must maintain high security.
How might blockchain technology aid in creating a safe, smart mobility environment?
Blockchain technology is recognized for its decentralized nature, allowing it to transact vehicle data securely. Blockchain applications are more relevant to supply chain management, financial services, and safe and secure data transmission. It can function as a trusted machine because data can be shared among different participants while remaining confidential. Vehicles can join the network thanks to distributed ledger technology, which stores vehicle data in a decentralized and distributed ledger. This information might then be accessed by other vehicles on the network. They may be confident that information is accurate and safe because it was processed using blockchain technology. After all, the data structure of ledgers shared on blockchains could make it easier to add, delete, or edit data in one go.
Blockchain technologies offer a dependable method of gathering and transferring data in a safe and irreversible format. The information is encrypted and stored securely. Specific data can only be accessed by authorized persons using a permissioned network. This ensures that sensitive information does not get into the wrong hands and is not misused. OEMs can use blockchain technology to improve overall vehicle cybersecurity, validate software specs, enable secure micropayments, improve identity management, and improve data verification. Despite some reservations, blockchain technology enables a tamper-proof and transparent data exchange procedure that will be extremely valuable to automakers shortly.
Last words
While the smart vehicle industry is only now beginning to recognize the value of blockchain technology, it may eventually become the de facto method of safeguarding smart car/connected car data. Whether preserving financial information or increasing the security of shared ownership, blockchain deserves more attention since it can transform the way data is handled in future cars. When combined with the decentralization that is the hallmark of blockchain technology and strong cryptography designed to hide (if desired) the participants and terms of transactions, blockchain can provide one of the most powerful solutions to the cybersecurity issues that continue to plague the smart mobility industry.