Autonomous vehicles face several primary cybersecurity threats:

1. Hacking and Unauthorized Access: Hackers can gain control of the vehicle’s systems, potentially causing accidents or stealing data.

2. Data Theft: Autonomous vehicles collect vast amounts of data, including personal information. Cybercriminals may target this data for theft or misuse.

3. Malware and Viruses: Malicious software can be introduced into the vehicle’s systems, disrupting operations, damaging software, or compromising safety features.

4. GPS Spoofing: By altering GPS signals, attackers can mislead the vehicle’s navigation system, causing it to go off course.

5. Network Attacks: Autonomous vehicles rely on communication networks for navigation and updates. Attacks on these networks, such as denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, can disrupt vehicle operations.

6. Software Vulnerabilities: Bugs and flaws in the vehicle’s software can be exploited by cybercriminals to gain control or access sensitive data.

7. Sensor Manipulation: Attackers can interfere with the sensors (e.g., cameras, LiDAR) that the vehicle uses to perceive its environment, leading to incorrect decisions and potential accidents.

Addressing these threats requires robust cybersecurity measures, including regular software updates, encryption, and secure communication protocols.