Dankook University announced on Wednesday that it has collaborated with vehicle forensics company CP6 to develop a new program called “ACAT Privacy.” (Image provided by Dankook University )
SEOUL, May 28 (Korea Bizwire) — A South Korean research team has unveiled a new software tool that securely deletes personal information stored in vehicle systems, aiming to mitigate privacy risks associated with secondhand car sales.
Dankook University announced Wednesday that it has developed the “ACAT Privacy” program in partnership with vehicle forensics firm CP6. The tool is designed to erase Bluetooth-synced personal data — such as contact lists and call logs — stored in a car’s infotainment system using the U.S. Department of Defense’s data erasure standard, DoD 5220.
Personal information is often retained in vehicle systems after users connect their smartphones via Bluetooth, even after a factory reset. Researchers warn this lingering data could be exploited for criminal purposes when vehicles change ownership.
The newly developed software ensures such data is permanently removed and cannot be recovered, according to Professor Samuel Woo of Dankook University’s Department of Software, who led the project.
The research team plans to expand the tool’s capabilities to include the deletion of sent and received text messages that vehicles read aloud to drivers — a feature increasingly common in smart car systems.
Dankook University currently operates South Korea’s only “Automotive Cyber Forensic Security Living Lab,” a research hub exploring next-generation technologies for traffic accident investigations and digital crime forensics in the era of connected vehicles.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
