37C3 - Unlocking the Road Ahead: Automotive Digital Forensics

Uncover the complexities of automotive digital forensics and explore the challenges and opportunities in an ever-evolving field where manufacturer collaborations, new tools, and increased attack surfaces are shaping the future.

Key takeaways
  • Automobile digital forensics is a complex and rapidly evolving field due to the increasing amount of data generated by modern vehicles.
  • Vehicles are valuable for forensic investigations, but the complexity of in-vehicle components and the lack of standardization make it difficult for investigators to understand what data is stored and how to interpret it.
  • The age of vehicles matters, with the average age of vehicles on the road being around 12 years in the US, and older vehicles often lacking clear guidelines for data storage and interpretation.
  • Automotive digital forensic investigations have limited scope due to the complexity and rapid obsolescence of vehicles.
  • Currently, there is a lack of fundamental research in automotive digital forensics, which hinders advancement in the field.
  • The growth of data collection and processing capabilities in modern vehicles can lead to increased attack surfaces and privacy concerns.
  • Manufacturers are beginning to collaborate with tech companies to improve their digital forensic capabilities.
  • The development of new tools and technologies, such as software-defined vehicles, will aid in forensic investigations.
  • Data standards and regulations are essential for clarity and consistency in automotive digital forensics.
  • Encryption and data protection are becoming increasingly important issues in automotive digital forensics.
  • The complexity of modern vehicles often leads to difficulties in data interpretation and forensic analysis.
  • The trend towards cloud-based services and data storage in automotive digital forensics raises concerns about data privacy and security.
  • The lack of regulation and standardization in automotive digital forensics is a major challenge for investigators.