VicOne—an Irving-based provider of automotive cybersecurity solutions—is joining forces with geolocation tech specialist TomTom “to safeguard connected cars that perform as an extension of the driver’s digital life,” the company announced today.
VicOne was launched by Trend Micro in June 2022 to support large-scale connected car deployments. Both cybersecurity companies have U.S. headquarters in Irving with parent companies in Japan. The partnership with TomTom will enable original equipment manufacturers to further protect their users’ data privacy in vehicles through VicOne’s purpose-built smart cockpit cybersecurity software. TomTom is a Dutch company with a U.S. HQ in Concord, Massachusetts.
“With cars becoming supercomputers on wheels, the combination of comprehensive threat intelligence with network security expertise is more critical than ever,” Edward Tsai, VP of strategic partnership at VicOne, said in a statement. “While personalized information is the future of mobility, a future-ready threat protection in-cabin is required. VicOne and TomTom share a vision for better digital lives in the cockpit, now we can bring the automotive ecosystem a step closer to this future.”
Conference calling, gaming, and other apps add vulnerabilities to vehicle infotainment systems
Year by year, vehicles are getting smarter—with the infotainment system on the dash offering more apps like conferencing calling, gaming, and more. But with each app, another vulnerable point could be exploited by cyber attacks, leading to the theft of car users’ personal information, VicOne says.
VicOne says drivers can protect themselves against these threats with the VicOne security app, which can be downloaded and installed on their in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system. “The app safeguards private and personal information that cyber-thieves can steal from in-car phone or video calls using malicious IVI apps or vulnerable browsers,” the company says. VicOne says its app “detects these malicious apps and URLs and alerts car owners to avoid opening them.”
The VicOne app also allows car owners to block these apps to prevent exposure in the future—and “can turn passive into active” with 24/7 personal data surveillance, which monitors everything from email addresses to bank account numbers, credit card details, social security numbers, and more.
When this sensitive personal information is leaked, the company says it notifies car owners “so they can take action immediately to protect themselves and their data from being compromised.”
VicOne’s xCarbon ECU systems are combined with the TomTom Digital Cockpit
By combining VicOne’s xCarbon ECU intrusion detection and prevention systems with the TomTom Digital Cockpit, the new partnership aims to help ensure that all those “greatly enhanced” infotainment system services remain secure. VicOne says the collaboration will enable OEMs “to provide multi-layered cybersecurity for their offerings, and help car owners feel safe from cyberattacks before and after purchasing their cars.”
“A connected cockpit unlocks a world of possibilities and potential pitfalls, and our partnership with VicOne underscores our everlasting commitment to ensure a uniquely safe and secure driver experience,” Paul Hesen, VP of product management at TomTom, said in the statement. “Together, we’re able to provide a single, consistent, cohesive and task-oriented digital cockpit that delivers peace of mind for consumers when inside the car.”
VicOne expanded its partnership with DFI in March for safer data-sharing
In March, VicOne expanded its partnership with Taiwan’s DFI, a global provider of embedded motherboards and industrial computers. That expansion was made to make it safer to share data in “vehicle-to-everything environments,” the company said.
By making it safer for vehicles, traffic signals, and infrastructure to share data with the internet, the collaboration aims to “deliver enhanced industry-leading automotive cybersecurity software solutions and services” for the EV and connected transportation market.
VicOne’s solutions leverage machine learning, behavior monitoring, and detection and response to help secure connected cars. Supporting the cybersecurity of a vehicle throughout its life cycle, VicOne says it leverages “over 30 years of cybersecurity experience from Trend Micro and the expertise of more than 10,000 independent researchers through the Zero Day Initiative.”
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