MUNICH: A security research lab owned by Tencent Holdings Ltd of China has won the first BMW Group Digitalization and IT Research Award.
The award honours pioneering research in software development and information technology, specifically in artificial intelligence, big data, internet of things, cybersecurity, connectivity and autonomous driving.
The award-winning research by Tencent Keen Security Lab experts was conducted between January 2017 and February 2018. The team had identified 14 different vulnerabilities among various BMW models. BMW said the Tencent study was by far the most comprehensive and complex testing ever conducted on BMW vehicles by a third party. BMW said it is rolling out security updates to patch the loopholes.
In recent years, Tencent Keen Security Lab has expanded capabilities in new research areas including connected/intelligent cars, IoT products, cloud computing and virtualization, as well as AI. A major research focus of Tencent Keen Security Lab is automotive security, a field in which the company has partnered with leading players. The company supports the advancement of security features of intelligent connected cars by publishing substantial research and supporting automakers in technological and technical development.
In response to what has become a race between technological progress and new, presently unknown attack scenarios, the BMW Group has launched a comprehensive cybersecurity action plan, which includes tests conducted both internally and with the help of independent institutions.
Third parties increasingly play a crucial role in improving automotive security as they conduct their own in-depth tests of products and services.
