As reported by Ford
Dearborn, Mich.– With the rapid convergence of in-car technology and the Internet, Ford Motor Company said today it is offering a suite of security features to protect the personal information of millions of Ford owners from the threat of computer hackers and viruses.
Protecting customers is critical as Ford moves to the forefront of in-car personal technology. Ford's popular SYNC system allows owners to connect digital media players and Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones to their vehicle's entertainment system and operate them with voice commands. The mobile phone also is a gateway to a number of Internet "cloud" services through SYNC's Traffic, Directions and Information application that provides turn-by-turn directions, business searches and more.
As a result, Ford is adapting methods and technologies most often associated with the fast-paced IT world to secure its mobile device-to-car connections from unwanted entry. Think firewalls, virus protection and password-controlled access.
Recent industry data shows that more than 11 million people in the U.S. were victims of identity theft and fraudulent accounts in 2009 – with nearly a third of fraudulent accounts opened via mobile phone technology. As the use of smartphones escalates – with 174 million shipped globally in 2009 alone – concern over identity and information theft continues to rise.
Safeguards
To give customer peace of mind that their private information is protected, concealed and secure while in the vehicle, Ford is offering the following security features:
SYNC Firewall
With the launch of MyFord Touch for the 2011 model year, Ford is adding WiFi "hot spot" broadcasting through SYNC using a USB-connected broadband modem. To prevent unauthorized access and combat piggybackers, Ford has built in firewalls to both the wireless network and the vehicle. Using the SYNC WiFi system, a signal will be broadcast throughout the vehicle. Default security is set to WiFi Protected Access 2 (WPA2), requiring users to enter a randomly chosen password to connect to the Internet. When SYNC sees a new WiFi device for the first time, the driver must specifically allow that device to connect, preventing piggybacking on the SYNC-provided signal.
SYNC Phone Pairing Protection
The one-time pairing of a phone to SYNC is a simple process through Bluetooth wireless connectivity technology allowing up to 12 cell phones to be recognized by system. The short-range nature of Bluetooth technology makes SYNC's connection to a paired cell phone's stored information – contact lists and address books – possible only when the phone is inside the vehicle. If there's no phone in the cabin, the wireless connection is broken and there's no evidence of stored data for invaders to collect.
Dearborn, Mich.– With the rapid convergence of in-car technology and the Internet, Ford Motor Company said today it is offering a suite of security features to protect the personal information of millions of Ford owners from the threat of computer hackers and viruses.
Protecting customers is critical as Ford moves to the forefront of in-car personal technology. Ford's popular SYNC system allows owners to connect digital media players and Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones to their vehicle's entertainment system and operate them with voice commands. The mobile phone also is a gateway to a number of Internet "cloud" services through SYNC's Traffic, Directions and Information application that provides turn-by-turn directions, business searches and more.
As a result, Ford is adapting methods and technologies most often associated with the fast-paced IT world to secure its mobile device-to-car connections from unwanted entry. Think firewalls, virus protection and password-controlled access.
Recent industry data shows that more than 11 million people in the U.S. were victims of identity theft and fraudulent accounts in 2009 – with nearly a third of fraudulent accounts opened via mobile phone technology. As the use of smartphones escalates – with 174 million shipped globally in 2009 alone – concern over identity and information theft continues to rise.
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| MyFord Touch (photo: Ford) |
Safeguards
To give customer peace of mind that their private information is protected, concealed and secure while in the vehicle, Ford is offering the following security features:
SYNC Firewall
With the launch of MyFord Touch for the 2011 model year, Ford is adding WiFi "hot spot" broadcasting through SYNC using a USB-connected broadband modem. To prevent unauthorized access and combat piggybackers, Ford has built in firewalls to both the wireless network and the vehicle. Using the SYNC WiFi system, a signal will be broadcast throughout the vehicle. Default security is set to WiFi Protected Access 2 (WPA2), requiring users to enter a randomly chosen password to connect to the Internet. When SYNC sees a new WiFi device for the first time, the driver must specifically allow that device to connect, preventing piggybacking on the SYNC-provided signal.
SYNC Phone Pairing Protection
The one-time pairing of a phone to SYNC is a simple process through Bluetooth wireless connectivity technology allowing up to 12 cell phones to be recognized by system. The short-range nature of Bluetooth technology makes SYNC's connection to a paired cell phone's stored information – contact lists and address books – possible only when the phone is inside the vehicle. If there's no phone in the cabin, the wireless connection is broken and there's no evidence of stored data for invaders to collect.