New Digital 'Passports' for Cars to Boost Security, Says Continental

Ever worried about how secure your car's digital information is, especially as vehicles become more like computers on wheels? Well, major car parts supplier Continental has just released a new report, or 'white paper', explaining a clever way to make our cars and the services they use much safer and more private.

The report talks about something called ‘verifiable credentials’ (VCs). Think of these as secure digital passports for your car, or even for you as the driver. These VCs are a standardised way to store information – like details about your car or who you are – in a way that's locked down and can be trusted. This means when your car talks to a charging station, a traffic light, or even a new app, it can prove it is genuinely your car, and you can prove you are genuinely the driver, without sharing loads of unnecessary personal details.

Continental believes this technology is key for the future of cars, especially those that are 'software-defined' – meaning their features are controlled more by computer programmes than just physical parts. It's all about making sure that when your car connects to the outside world, that connection is secure and private. This could help prevent things like hacking, protect your personal data, and ensure that only authorised people or systems can access certain car functions. Essentially, it's about building a more trustworthy digital world for our vehicles as they get smarter and more connected.