Electric vehicle charging stations: new target for hackers

The growing wave of electric vehicles is bringing with it new security problems, with charging stations becoming targets for hackers. Recently, Sky Malcolm, a user of the Electrify America fast-charging service, noticed a peculiar malfunction: a charging station was displaying a President Biden meme instead of the standard welcome screen. This incident, as well as others around the world, highlights a worrying trend towards hacking of charging infrastructure. While these attacks have remained mostly harmless thus far, cybersecurity experts warn that they could have far more serious consequences if it fell into the wrong hands.

Attacks on charging stations could destabilize the electricity grid

According to Ken Munro, co-founder of Pen Test Partners, hackers could not only access vehicle data or consumers' credit card information, but could also have the power to stop or start charging at will. This could not only cause individual inconvenience, but also create large-scale problems if the attacks were coordinated. Munro argues that if thousands, or millions, of charging stations were turned on or off simultaneously, they could destabilize and even bring down entire power grids.

The burden of safety falls on the manufacturers

Most of the security measures will have to come from the manufacturers themselves. Munro recommends that consumers not connect their home charging stations to the Internet to prevent most vulnerabilities from being exploited. However, the main responsibility lies with the companies that provide these services. Jacob Hoffman-Andrews, senior technologist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, says manufacturers need to ensure the safety of charging stations. Companies, including Electrify America, say they have taken steps to mitigate risks and fix vulnerabilities quickly.

Towards more stringent safety standards

Despite the challenges, there is growing recognition of the importance of cybersecurity in the EV charging industry. The Federal Highway Administration recently issued a rule requiring states to implement appropriate cybersecurity strategies for charging stations funded under the Infrastructure Act. However, much remains to be done to establish a coordinated set of safety standards. Johnson says the industry is moving in the right direction, albeit slowly, and stresses the importance of applying constant pressure for improvement. The safety of electric vehicle charging stations is key to building trust and mitigating risk, ensuring a safer future for electric mobility.