---
title: "SECTION 4: Cybersecurity: The cyber risk becomes physical"
canonical: "/section-4-cybersecurity-the-cyber-risk-becomes-physical"
published: 2026-11-13
---

# SECTION 4: Cybersecurity: The cyber risk becomes physical

### Cybersecurity: The cyber risk becomes physical

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The evolution to connectivity and now automation blurs the traditional distinction between cyber and physical risk. A compromised database can expose information; a compromised AV could have consequences in the physical world.

The cybersecurity challenge therefore extends beyond protecting the vehicle from unauthorised access. Organisations receiving and aggregating vehicle information will also not need to make secure the much larger pools of data created outside it.

Software maintenance will matter too, particularly because vehicles remain in service considerably longer than many consumer electronic devices. Responsibility for security updates and unsupported software could become increasingly significant.

\+39%

year-on-year increase in global
automotive cyber incidents.
(Upstream, 2025)

#### “It will be a step change in the amount of data that's generated, collected and shared and stored.”

#### Justin Tivey, Partner, DAC Beachcroft

92%

of attacks were remote, while more than 60% of incidents affected thousands to millions of mobility assets.

(Upstream, 2025)

WATCH: Cybersecurity and AV data

David Williams, Partner, DAC Beachcroft CSG and Justin Tivey, Partner, DAC Beachcroft examine software vulnerabilities, security updates and the implications of collecting and storing unprecedented quantities of vehicle and personal data.

**Anchor**

### Article:

#### Automated vehicles: Cybersecurity, data protection and the emerging litigation landscape

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### KeyContributors

Justin Tivey

Partner

DAC Beachcroft

David Williams

Partner

DAC Beachcroft, CSG

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