CTIA, the wireless industry association, certified the first device through its Internet of Things Cybersecurity Certification Program. The aftermarket connected car device is offered by AT&T.
The HARMAN Spark telematics device plugs into the on-board diagnostics port under the driver’s side dash.
It’s compatible with vehicles made after 1996, and enables connectivity. Once plugged in and synced with the Spark app on a smartphone, the device provides the driver with emergency crash assistance, in-car WiFi, a virtual mechanic and more.
CTIA SVP/CTO Tom Sawanobori called the event a milestone. “As we move toward an increasingly connected future, the CTIA IoT Cybersecurity Certification Program and its labs will play a key role in protecting consumers and our wireless networks,” he said.
The Ericsson Device and Application Verification lab in Richardson, Texas, conducted the testing. The CTIA program helps device suppliers, enterprises and government organizations ensure that cellular-connected devices have appropriate security capabilities.
The certification process includes verifying the device security features against a set of standard cybersecurity best practices. These address the storage of consumers’ information, rigorous password and security management standards and the availability of an over-the-air mechanism for security software updates.
March 11, 2019
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