Vehicle Cybersecurity And Technostress
Just when you thought modern high-tech cars were safer to drive than classic cars, thehackernews.com recently reported that several software bugs affecting millions of cars from 16 different manufacturers can be hacked to unlock, run, and track cars, and even affect. car owner privacy.
Security vulnerabilities discovered in automotive APIs and software for Acura, BMW, Ferrari, Ford, Genesis, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Rolls Royce, Toyota. Works on Reviver, SiriusXM and Spireon.
The flaws vary widely, from those that provide access to internal company systems and user information, to vulnerabilities that allow an attacker to remotely execute code to issue commands.
The study builds on findings late last year when Yuga Labs researcher Sam Curry discovered a security hole in the connected vehicle service provided by SiriusXM that could make vehicles vulnerable to remote attacks.
The biggest problem with Spireon's telematics solution can be exploited to gain full administrative access, which allows attackers to issue arbitrary commands to approximately 15.5 million vehicles and update device firmware.
"This will enable us to monitor and deactivate the triggers of police, ambulance, and law enforcement vehicles in several major cities and issue orders for these vehicles," the researchers said.
Other bugs allowed accessing or modifying customer data, the internal dealer portal, real-time GPS vehicle location tracking, manipulation of license plate data for all Reviver customers, and even updating a vehicle's status as "stolen".
The interconnectedness of our digital devices makes protecting cars difficult, as evidenced by the nearly 300 percent increase in cyber attacks on cars over the last three years, with around 90 percent of these attacks being carried out remotely.
It goes without saying that the complexity of their intelligent software systems is also increasing as automotive technology advances. In addition, identifying software supply chain vulnerabilities caused by smart capabilities requires a deep understanding of software and hardware systems, as well as an understanding of specific user protocols for connected vehicles and their autonomous driving systems.
If you are worried, make sure your vehicle is in top condition, not only physically/operationally, but also through software updates and repairs.
Ask your car dealer when you have scheduled maintenance.
Recently, Joanne Griffin's insightful blog on technostress (is there such a word?) got me thinking about the long-term implications. Basically, the idea is that the technology of our time has introduced a new type of threat - information overload - and a whole new reward system - likes and followers! Both can be addicting and potentially harmful to our brains.
In an ideal world, daily use of technology would increase eustress and reduce discomfort.
However, mounting evidence suggests that technology-induced stress is reaching pandemic proportions and can undermine organizational agility and new technologies. Technostress is the new uberstressor of our time.
Driven by the widespread use of technology in our lives and the increasing digitization of work, this new source of stress crosses geographic and cultural barriers and wreaks havoc on organizations and society.
The constant demand for new devices and apps is placing unprecedented demands on our Paleolithic brains as our dopamine receptors rewire in the digital age, leaving many of us unfulfilled and dissatisfied with the daily grind.
The term technostress was first introduced in 1984 by American psychotherapist Craig Broad.
Even before the digital age, Broad described this new type of stress as "modern adjustment sickness, caused by an inability to handle new information technologies in a healthy way."
Like everyday stress, technostress can have both positive and negative effects. When technology causes eustress, we are challenged and motivated by opportunities to grow and learn.
In the realm of eustress, technology can bring satisfaction and joy, help us make decisions, and help us adapt easily.
With the best available technology, organizations can increase productivity, efficiency and innovation.
On the other hand, technology stress can make employees feel unappreciated and unacknowledged. Technostress usually works in the following situations:
• When there is a high dependence on technology;
• When we become aware of the gap between what we know and what we need to know, eg
• We are aware of the changes in work culture brought about by technology.
This type of stress seems to give way to physiological symptoms such as fatigue, irritability and insomnia, and various psychological symptoms such as frustration, mental overload, skepticism, reduced job satisfaction, reduced commitment, and reduced performance.
In recent years, there has been an increase in technostress research as we seek to understand the causes of low adoption, failed digital transformations, and decreased productivity in the workplace. As new discoveries continue to emerge, technostress is often studied in five main areas.
Each domain acts as an individual "stressor" and contributes to the overall level of technostress.
These stressors act as latent threats to digital adoption and can derail even the most intentional technology adoption.
Five main domains: 1. Techno eaters 2. Techintrusions 3. Techno complexity 4. Techno uncertainty 5. Techno uncertainty
technological advantages
Too much attention, too little mental space. We have learned that in recent years the human ability to adapt to changing technologies has been compromised by information overload and excessive choice. It's almost impossible to keep up with the latest updates and features in all of our apps. New features are often something new for us to learn and adapt to. While technology can process tasks faster, it can inadvertently create more work when the results are passed to humans. The need to adjust and maintain performance at the same time is a common source of anxiety in the digital age!
Technological invasion
The pandemic-accelerated work program has invaded our personal devices, our personal space, and our privacy. The boundaries between work and home become very blurred, making it increasingly difficult to stop working or focus on leisure. Our “always-connected” culture means we are more accessible, to more people, more time: while we may be invisible while working remotely, we rarely lose touch.
Technical complexity
We've discovered a new technology that has more features and functionality than we ever need or use. The abundance of features and seemingly limitless possibilities can turn any user off. According to a survey, employees use only 40% of the functionality of any software application. No wonder we are frustrated with digital transformation that will make our lives easier! While learning can help, classroom learning approaches are rarely an effective way to drive digital adoption. We didn't have the time or mental resources to invest in learning and understanding how to use every feature, so we did our best to intuitively navigate new systems, which often felt powerless and inadequate.
Lack of technology security
As technology expands a company's footprint, many employees want to understand its impact on them.
Technological uncertainty
We understand that technology evolves at an accelerating pace and we are forced to learn and adapt to new tools and features faster than ever. The knowledge and skills we have refined over the years quickly become obsolete, and the need for repetition can drain our mental faculties. The time has come to place human (and world) evolution above the technological revolution. As one wise man said, "Always stop and smell the roses..." God bless you and stay safe in both the digital and physical worlds.
• ILAITHIA B. TUISAVAOU is a private IT security consultant. The opinions expressed in this article are your own and not necessarily those shared by this magazine. Mr. Tuisawau can be contacted at ilaitia@cyberbati.com.
