Survey of 2,000 drivers finds fewer than 1 in 5 are very confident in their car’s cybersecurity, while 76% fear remote attacks could endanger lives
SAN JOSE, Calif. and MCLEAN, Va., Aug. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Less than one-in-five (19%) connected car drivers are very confident their vehicle is protected from cyberattacks, while 76% express concern about cyberattacks causing accidents or putting their lives at risk, according to the 2025 Connected Car Cyber Safety & Security Index released today at the ADAS & Autonomous Vehicle Technology Summit North America by RunSafe Security, a pioneer in cyberhardening technology for embedded systems.
RunSafe’s 2025 Index surveyed 2,000 connected car owners across the U.S., UK, and Germany, revealing drivers are increasingly aware of the cyber risks facing their vehicles – and are letting those concerns shape how and what they drive. The results show consumer awareness of connected car cybersecurity threats has outpaced automaker action, turning cybersecurity from a technical afterthought into a decisive factor in purchasing decisions.
Among the survey’s most striking findings: 79% of drivers prioritize protecting their physical safety from cyberattacks over securing personal data stored in their vehicles – showcasing consumers’ understanding of automotive cybersecurity as a life-and-death issue. Meanwhile, 65% believe remote hacking of their car is possible, with driver anxiety fueled primarily by modern vehicles’ reliance on AI and a “supply web” of software providers.
Other key findings from the report include:
- Software supply chain transparency demands: 83% want automakers to disclose software sources, while 77% recognize third-party components as cybersecurity risks
- Purchase power: 87% say strong cybersecurity influences buying decisions, with 35% willing to pay premium prices for enhanced cyber protection on their car
- Avoidance behaviors: 70% would consider buying older, less connected vehicles to reduce cyber risk
- AI anxiety escalates: 85% of drivers would be more concerned about cybersecurity risks if outside companies manufactured AI features in their vehicles
- Premium pricing acceptance: 35% would pay more for enhanced cybersecurity protection, turning security from a cost center into a revenue opportunity
- Brand loyalty at stake: 37% would switch to a different brand if their preferred vehicle were found to be vulnerable to cyberattacks
“Connected cars have become computers on wheels, and with that transformation comes new risks that consumers increasingly recognize,” said Joe Saunders, Founder and CEO of RunSafe Security. “Our research shows that cybersecurity is now an important consideration in the car-buying process. Automakers who invest in transparent, proactive security measures will capture a competitive advantage, while those who lag behind risk losing market share to competitors—or worse, driving customers to opt out of connected cars altogether.”
Driver concerns are validated by a growing list of real-world vulnerabilities that demonstrate how cyberattacks on vehicles can directly endanger lives. A 2015 Jeep Cherokee hack remains the most alarming example, where researchers remotely disabled a vehicle’s brakes while traveling on a highway, affecting 1.4 million cars and triggering the largest automotive cybersecurity recall in history. More recently, researchers discovered the “PerfektBlue” Bluetooth vulnerability that exposed millions of vehicles to remote hacking, allowing attackers to unlock doors, start engines, and potentially access critical vehicle systems without physical contact.
“The reality is that automotive cybersecurity isn’t just about protecting data—it’s about preventing vehicles from becoming mobile weapons,” added Saunders. “Drivers aren’t paranoid in their concerns. They’re recognizing that a compromised car can endanger lives, and the industry needs to respond with the same urgency we’d apply to any other life-safety system.”
- Download the complete RunSafe Security 2025 Connected Car Cyber Safety & Security Index here.
- Visit RunSafe Security at booth #1010 at the ADAS & Autonomous Vehicle Technology Summit North America.
About RunSafe Security
RunSafe Security protects embedded software across critical infrastructure, delivering automated vulnerability identification and software hardening from build-time to runtime to defend the software supply chain and critical systems without compromising performance or requiring code rewrites. The RunSafe Security Platform includes the authoritative build-time SBOM generator for embedded systems and C/C++ projects, automated vulnerability identification and risk quantification, patented memory relocation techniques to mitigate memory-based vulnerabilities, and pre-hardened open-source packages and containers for immediate protection.
Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, with an office in Huntsville, Alabama, RunSafe Security’s customers span the aerospace and defense, energy, operational technology, industrial automation, transportation and automotive, medical device, and high-tech manufacturing verticals.
Media Contact:
RunSafe Security
Staci Cretu, SVP & CMO
[email protected]
https://runsafesecurity.com
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SOURCE RunSafe Security
