Intel launches security initiative for smart cars

A new security organisation for connected cars has been set up by Intel in the wake of several high-profile vulnerabilities exposed over the course of the summer.

The Automotive Security Research Board (ASRB), as the group has been called, comprises Intel, security consultancy IOActive, lobby group I Am The Cavalry, and vehicle research lab collective Open Garages.

It will work to codify best practices and design recommendations through ongoing security tests and audits, while Intel will provide specialist infrastructure on which these investigations can be carried out.

The chipmaker is currently asking security professionals who would be interested in joining the organisation to get in touch.

Alongside the launch of the ASRB, Intel Security (formerly McAfee) has published a whitepaper on automotive security best practices.

Co-authored by eight Intel security researchers, the paper sets out three primary areas of focus for best practice discussion - security lifecycle development, meaning the car must be protected for the entire time it's on the road, supply chain security, and the use of recognised secure coding standards.

"Computer security joins reliability and safety as a cornerstone for consumer confidence and continued success in the automotive industry," said the report.

"Best practices for automotive security are an evolution and amalgamation of both product safety and computer security," it added.

Intel and the ASRB are not the only ones working to improve connected car security, however. BT announced in April a new initiative, Assure Ethical Hacking for Vehicles, which will carry out penetration testing on connected vehicles, including buses and lorries, as well as cars.