LG Electronics is intensifying its foray into the automotive market by enhancing its capabilities in car security platforms. The company plans to expand its market presence by strengthening global marketing and incorporating security technologies into its infotainment systems and telematics components.
According to industry officials on Dec. 25, LG Electronics’ Chief Technology Officer (CTO) division is set to recruit cryptography experts by the end of this year, targeting candidates with over five years of experience or a master’s degree in the field.
New hires will be responsible for evaluating and improving security Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC). PQC is a cryptographic technology that remains secure even against the superior computational abilities of quantum computers. This next-generation security method is gaining attention as conventional public key encryption systems become vulnerable to quantum computing advances. Research and application of Homomorphic Encryption (HE), which allows data to be processed and used in an encrypted state, are also planned.
Recruiting cryptography experts is seen as a strategy to proactively secure next-generation encryption systems within the hardware and software platform environment of automotive components. Since last year, LG Electronics, in collaboration with its affiliate LG Uplus and cryptography technology specialist Cryptolab, has been developing a prototype of a vehicle infotainment (IVI) system incorporating PQC. This initiative aims to bolster its automotive business portfolio by adding security features to existing infotainment systems, electric vehicle power trains, and automotive lighting systems.
As the mobility industry evolves towards Software-Defined Vehicles (SDV), the importance of cybersecurity technology in thwarting hacking attempts is increasingly crucial. Cybersecurity technology has become a key factor in the selection criteria for automotive components among completed vehicle customers. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), with participation from 56 countries including the European Union, South Korea, and Japan, has established regulations requiring all vehicles released in member countries from July next year to be certified in cybersecurity management systems.
LG Electronics took a significant step in acquiring automotive cybersecurity technology by taking over the management rights of the Israeli automotive cybersecurity company Cybellum in 2021. At the beginning of this year, LG Electronics showcased various technologies at CES 2023, the world’s largest electronics and IT exhibition, including PQC-based automotive audio, video, navigation (AVN), and the CarPay service, which allows in-car payments with simple biometric authentication. Next year, at CES, LG Electronics plans to unveil for the first time the Cybersecurity Management System (CSMS) Cockpit Platform developed in collaboration with Cybellum.