Connected Vehicles – Protect Your Data and Stay Secure

Many modern vehicles can connect to mobile phones, smart devices, and online services to provide features such as hands-free calling, satellite navigation, remote locking, vehicle tracking, and app-based controls. While these technologies offer convenience, they can also create security and privacy risks if not managed properly.

What are the risks?

When your phone is connected to a vehicle, personal information may be stored within the vehicle's system, including:

  Contact lists and phone numbers.

  Call logs and text message data.

  Saved addresses and navigation history.

  Email accounts and app information.

  Bluetooth pairing details.

If a vehicle is sold, hired, returned at the end of a lease, or accessed by criminals, this data could potentially be recovered and misused.

Connected vehicles can also be vulnerable to:

  Unauthorised access through weak passwords or compromised accounts.

  Phishing attacks targeting vehicle app users.

  Theft of personal information through unsecured mobile devices.

  Exploitation of outdated vehicle software.

How can you protect yourself?

✅ Use strong, unique passwords for vehicle-related accounts and apps.

✅ Enable two-factor authentication where available.

✅ Keep your vehicle's software and connected apps up to date.

✅ Lock your mobile phone with a PIN, fingerprint, or facial recognition.

✅ Review app permissions and only grant access where necessary.

✅ Remove paired devices and perform a factory reset before selling, returning, or disposing of a vehicle.

✅ Be cautious of emails, texts, or phone calls claiming to be from vehicle manufacturers asking for account details.

✅ Avoid storing sensitive work information on connected devices where possible.

Work Vehicle Users

Employees using fleet or work vehicles should ensure that:

  Personal devices are removed from vehicle systems before returning the vehicle.

  Any work-related data is protected in accordance with organisational information security policies.

  Suspected cyber incidents or data breaches are reported promptly through the appropriate channels.

Remember

A connected vehicle is effectively another internet-connected device. Taking simple security steps can help protect your personal information, prevent fraud, and reduce the risk of your vehicle or connected accounts being compromised.

Stay safe, stay connected, and stay secure.