Increased Vulnerabilities at DealershipsĪttacks related to phishing schemes are typically related to user error. Other top threats included ransomware, lack of employee awareness, theft of business data, PC viruses or malware and stolen or weak passwords. With 36% of data breaches at dealerships related to phishing, it’s not surprising that dealerships rated phishing as their top concern. Some 84% of customers say they would not buy another vehicle from a dealership if a breach compromised their data. However, the biggest impact of attacks on dealerships is likely the impact on customer loyalty. The study also found that dealerships experienced an average of 16 days of downtime after a ransomware attack, with an average payout of $228,125. Not surprisingly, only 37% of auto retailers are confident in the current protection, which is a 21% decrease from 2021. Additionally, 89% say cybersecurity is more important than last year, a 12% increase.

The Second Annual Global State of Cybersecurity Report by CDK Global found that 85% of dealerships say cybersecurity is very or extremely important relative to other operational areas. Auto dealerships are increasingly concerned with cybersecurity in the face of new regulations and an alarming rise in cyberattacks.

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