A system includes a processor controlling a vehicle module (VM) in communication with a telematics control unit (TCU) over a bus. In this embodiment, the processor is configured to receive an authentication request, including a counter value, from the TCU. The processor is also configured to respond to the authentication request based on comparison of the counter value to a stored counter value stored by the VM. The processor is further configured to receive a command corresponding to the authentication request and including the counter value, responsive to the approved authentication request and process the command based on comparison of the counter value to the stored counter value.