STMicroelectronics Security Microcontrollers provide a more secure network environment for car networking

     By 2020, the number of connected cars on the road is expected to reach 150 to 250 million, and the data security of connected cars will be provided by chips, such as STMicroelectronics' latest security microcontroller. Access to the Internet will bring many services to cars and their owners, such as software updates, service packages, location information services, social media, streaming entertainment content and emergency relief, which requires connected cars to be able to defend against Internet attacks, prevent the theft of personal data or damage to the car's vital systems.

     STMicroelectronics' new safety microcontrollers (ST32G512A and ST33G1M2A) leverage its market-leading proprietary safety technology to provide data protection and are certified to AEC-Q100, the world's most stringent automotive product quality certification standard. In connected cars, security microcontrollers handle authentication in a similar way to mobile phones. Within the ST33G1M2A microcontroller, the additional security features implemented by the non-modifiable hardware can be used as an embedded security unit to provide a root certificate of trust against attacks on the vehicle's engine control unit (ECU) and gateway. The ST33 series has been proven in the NFC SIM card and NFC embedded security unit application markets.

     ABI Research believes that more than half of all in-vehicle cellular communication interfaces will be built with permanently welded embedded user identification cards or eUICC cards, such as ST's ST32G512A and ST33G1M2A security microcontrollers. Dominique Bonte, General Manager and Vice President B2B at ABI Research, said: "As a leader in the secure microcontroller market, STMicroelectronics is uniquely positioned in the automotive data security market to provide tamper-proof authentication capabilities that increase consumer confidence in connected vehicles and related services. Reliable safety is essential for autonomous driving and driverless vehicles, which will enable smart mobility modes such as ride-sharing and wider transport services, while also helping to reduce emissions and congestion on the roads."

     Marie-France Florentin, Vice President of STMicroelectronics and General Manager of Safety Microcontroller Products, added: "Connected car technology holds great promise for improving the quality of life and safety of drivers and passengers. We are committed to providing the highest security technologies to keep our users safe and support the development of more innovative concepts and services."

     In addition to connected car applications, STMicroelectronics' new security microcontrollers are also suitable for M2M communications in a variety of harsh environments, such as industrial networks and asset monitoring. Software developed by users for the previous generation of compatible products (ST32/ST33) can be ported to the new generation, simplifying the development process and speeding up the development cycle.