Connected vehicle hacking on the increase
Connected vehicle hacking on a large scale and cyber attacks on mobility services increased from five per cent to 19% last year.
According to Upstream Security, a US-based data security management specialist, the striking increase underlines the needs for organisations to bolster their cyber security beyond regulatory compliance.
Its 2025 Automotive & Smart Mobility Cybersecurity Report revealed that in 2024, 60% of all automotive and smart mobility cybersecurity incidents impacted thousands of individual devices including electric vehicles, charging stations, smart mobility apps, and connected devices.
It identified one ransomware attack in June on a US-based software provider used by 15,000 automotive dealerships which stopped operations for nearly three weeks, causing losses of around £820m.
Cyberattacks more sophisticated
Meanwhile, cyberattacks became more sophisticated, targeting vehicles and backend systems, with 65% of reported attacks carried out by professional criminal hackers with malicious intent.
Nearly all (92%) were executed remotely, with 85% requiring no physical proximity to the targeted asset.
Yoav Levy, chief executive and co-founder of Upstream, said: “The cybersecurity landscape across the automotive and smart mobility ecosystem is poised to become more complex than ever. Cyber threats are evolving faster than the industry is prepared to handle, outpacing regulation-driven measures.
“Threat actors have already shifted toward large-scale, sophisticated and AI-powered attack methods, targeting not only vehicles but also interconnected systems such as EV charging infrastructure, API-driven apps, and smart mobility IoT devices. This growing attack surface demands a transformative and proactive approach to cybersecurity.”
