Protecting an automobile network using distributed firewall system

Abstract

As the automobile industry continues to incorporate more technology into cars, the security of the "automobile network" portion of that technology is in need of tremendous improvement. The communications between the in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems and the essential safety systems (e.g., anti-lock brake systems) should remain secure. However, there are few to no security measures currently implemented in an automobile network. This implies that if an attacker could break into a modern vehicle's IVI system, they could possibly endanger drivers, passengers, and others. Any of the integral mechanisms of the vehicle connected to the IVI system could be open to vulnerabilities. To protect automobile networks from threats, we present a novel Hybrid Security System (HSS). The proposed HSS uses the distributed firewalls to filter malicious content (e.g., data packets) placed at each module and an electronic control unit (ECU). The HSS creates two layers of defense within an automobile network that allows flexibility for manufactures who want extra security for their cars without causing abandonment or redesigning their current security architectures. Our proposed HSS is unique from other existing solutions in that it operates on a universal platform that can reach across all automobile manufacturers.