Threat Mitigation in a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication Network

A vehicle-to-vehicle communication system comprising:

• a vehicle communication processing unit for controlling a broadcast of wireless messages within the vehicle-to-vehicle communication system, the vehicle communication processing unit having a memory for storing certificate revocation lists (CRL);
• and
• a portable security unit for linking to the vehicle processing unit, the portable security unit communicating with the processing unit for performing mutual authentication between the portable security unit and the vehicle communication processing unit in response to being linked to one another, the portable security unit having a non-volatile memory for storing an updated certification revocation list;
• wherein the portable security unit links to a network device having access to a communication network, the communication network being in communication with a certificate authority for issuing an updated CRL, wherein the updated CRL is downloaded from the certificate authority to the portable security unit, wherein the portable security unit establishes a communication link to the vehicle communication system in response to initiating a vehicle security operation, and wherein the updated CRL stored in the portable security unit is downloaded to the memory of the vehicle communication system in response to the mutual authentication between the portable security unit and the vehicle processing unit.