Published Paper Details:

Automated vehicles (AVs) are transforming the transportation industry with the integration of advanced sensors, communication systems, and artificial intelligence (AI). These technologies make travel safer, smarter, and more efficient. However, the high level of connectivity in modern vehicles also exposes them to various cybersecurity threats that can jeopardize data integrity, privacy, and passenger safety. This study explores the major cybersecurity challenges faced by automated vehicles, the potential attack pathways, and the defense frameworks currently used to counter these threats. It also highlights methods such as secure vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication and AI-powered intrusion detection systems as effective approaches to strengthen vehicular cybersecurity. Modern vehicles depend heavily on interconnected sensors for operations like speed regulation, braking, navigation, and safety control. These sensors communicate mainly through in-vehicle networks such as the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus, which unfortunately lacks built-in security mechanisms like encryption and authentication. As a result, if a sensor is compromised or hacked, it could feed false information into the system, disrupting other sensors and interfering with crucial vehicle functions. Overall, cybersecurity remains one of the most critical concerns in autonomous vehicles, given their vulnerabilities across software, hardware, wireless communication, and external interfaces.