Towards data-driven autonomous cyber defence for military unmanned vehicles - threats & attacks

Abstract

Unmanned vehicles with varying degrees of autonomy will likely change the way military operations can be conducted, but they also introduce risks that require new ways of thinking security. In particular, the safety ramifications of cyber attacks should be seen as equally critical as the loss of classified data. Developing a cyber defence capability that can detect and manage these potentially harmful events also without human intervention thus becomes a fundamental requirement. In this paper, we commence such work by exploring how to disrupt the functionality of an actual military unmanned ground vehicle given an internal attacker, and how the resulting data can be used to design an an effective detection capability.

Autonomous Vehicles: Sophisticated Attacks, Safety Issues, Challenges, Open Topics, Blockchain, and Future Directions

“…Fundamental Security Principles Fundamental security principles are crucial for protecting the security of autonomous vehicles and the dangers they seek to counteract. Autonomous vehicles rely on complex software and hardware systems to operate [179], and any vulnerabilities in these systems can be exploited by attackers to gain control of the vehicle or cause it to malfunction. This can result in serious safety risks for passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians.…”

“…Protecting these data from unauthorized access or manipulation is essential to maintain privacy and prevent misuse. Ensuring the security of these systems is vital to prevent unauthorized access or malicious attacks that could compromise the safety of the vehicle and its occupants [179].…”