A Simulator Study on Drivers’ Response and Perception Towards Vehicle Cyberattacks

Abstract

The introduction of advanced technologies has made driving a more automated activity. However, most vehicles are not designed with cybersecurity considerations and hence, they are susceptible to cyberattacks. When such incidents happen, it is critical for drivers to respond properly. The goal of this study was to observe drivers’ responses to unexpected vehicle cyberattacks while driving in a simulated environment and to gain deeper insights into their perceptions of vehicle cybersecurity. Ten participants completed the experiment and the results showed that they perceived and responded differently to each vehicle cyberattack. Participants correctly identified the cybersecurity issue and took according action when the issue caused a noticeable visual and auditory response. Participants preferred to be clearly informed about what happened and what to do through a combination of visual, tactile, and auditory warnings. The lack of knowledge of vehicle cybersecurity was obvious among participants.

How do drivers respond to vehicle cyberattacks? A driving simulator study

“…However, a prominent feature of cyberattacks is their randomness and unpredictability (Petit & Shladover, 2014). Combined with how fast technologies evolve and vehicle systems update, there is no panacea to prevent all vehicle cyberattacks (Zhang et al, 2019). Additionally, it is believed that the majority of software and hardware systems in vehicles are not protected against manipulations and that existing automotive systems tend to be fragile (Koscher et al, 2010;Wolf, Weimerskirch, & Wollinger, 2007;Zhang et al, 2019).…”

“…Because drivers are those who directly interact with vehicles and would respond to any potential cyberattacks, it is critical to consider their role and investigate their response behavior under such situations. Doing so would allow us to assess the consequences of vehicle cyberattacks in terms of driver safety (Cranor, 2008;Zhang et al, 2019). Yet, past research has not thoroughly studied the drivers' behavior in the context of vehicle cyberattacks.…”

“…While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to prevent vehicle cyberattacks, training and warning systems are effective in helping drivers deal with unexpected and hazardous situations (Zhang et al, 2019). Therefore, we hypothesized that if drivers could be trained on vehicle cybersecurity and receive warning messages when encountering vehicle cyberattacks, they may safely respond to cyberattack-inducted situations.…”

“…Due to drivers' increasing demand for in-vehicle entertainment options and the rapid development of technologies, modern automobiles are more than mechanical machines used for transportation (Eiza & Ni, 2017;Zhang, Petit, & Roberts, 2019). Vehicles are embedded with numerous electronic components, making them more advanced and automated, and allowing the possibility of internal and external vehicle connections.…”

“…Hackers can propagate cyberattacks on vehicles through several avenues, including physical and remote access (Hodge, Hauck, Gupta, & Bennett, 2019). A Jeep Cherokee was hacked by two researchers remotely from their basement and a Mitsubishi Outlander was hacked through manipulations between its mobile app and the Wi-Fi access point (Eiza & Ni, 2017;Zhang et al, 2019). Moreover, almost 100 million Volkswagen vehicles manufactured between 1995 and 2016 were vulnerable to remote, keyless-entry hacks (Garcia, Oswald, Kasper, & Pavlidès, 2016;Zhang et al, 2019).…”