“Justin Cappos, a computer science professor at New York University’s Tanden School of Engineering, said one of the more promising ways to stay ahead of hackers is through regular over-the-air software updates to fix vulnerabilities as soon as they become known.
For example, Tesla last summer sent out updates to all Tesla Model Xs after Chinese security researchers managed to turn on a Model X’s brakes remotely and to get the doors and trunk to open and close while blinking the lights in time to music streamed from the vehicle’s audio system.
“I will say that the automotive companies have really come a long way and have made strides,” Cappos said. “But it’s really hard when you are making something as complicated as cars, and you are buying components of the cars from vendors … to get everyone to fix their security and get on the same page.””