Abstract: Automotive cybersecurity is increasingly vital in today's digitally interconnected world. With vehicles relying more on electronic control systems, they become susceptible to cyber threats. Understanding attackers' methods and learning defense strategies is crucial for upcoming engineers and cybersecurity professionals. The speaker will illustrate practical automotive cybersecurity concepts through reverse engineering and simulating attacks on a virtual car network. This demonstration will showcase how hackers exploit vulnerabilities to remotely control car functions, such as activating turn signals or unlocking doors. Attendees will gain insights into the pivotal role of cybersecurity in automotive systems, emphasizing the need to bridge automotive engineering and cybersecurity through defensive capabilities. The speaker will address leadership initiatives aimed at enhancing cybersecurity workforce development on a broader scale.

Short Bio: Prashanth Reddy is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He completed his MS and PhD degree from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. At UNC Pembroke, he directs the Cyber Defense Education Center, advancing the U.S. National Security Agency's National Center of Academic Excellence-Cyber Defense Education initiative and overseeing three cybersecurity degree programs. His research concentrates on the information security of advanced computing systems and future-generation wireless technology. Prashanth's publications cover applied cryptography, authentication schemes in distributed systems, security analysis of cyber-physical systems, vehicular cybersecurity, cyber threat intelligence, synthetic cyber data generation, and Blockchain technology. Pedagogically, has a penchant for integrating diverse instructional technologies to enhance students' learning experiences and transforming the learning environment to promote accessibility and intentional inclusivity for all students.