IOT Security Trends – Is the online world more dangerous??

Security threats are the biggest concern among the main concerns on the Internet of Things. Due to its very nature, it is a target of interest for those who want to commit either industrial or national espionage. By hacking into these systems and putting them under a denial of service, or other attacks, an entire network of systems can be taken out. This has caused cyber criminals to become very interested in the IoT and the possibilities that surround its misuse

Fortunately, companies are realizing that there are many potential problems with their framework. This has caused a new trend of companies reviewing these areas and coming up with an effective solution. Until that is done, those using these devices should remain wary. The IoT allows devices to exchange contextual information and to execute certain decisions based on this information. This means cars, homes, power supplies, and even water supplies using the IoT could potentially be at risk. In these cases, physical security is irrelevant, as a simple change of data could impact the control of systems and cause them to function as a dangerous item.

The idea of a security breach through the IoT isn’t something that is a possibility that could happen either. There are already cases of hackers breaking into the systems. Two cars were hacked, their brakes were disabled, and the lights turned off. All without the driver having the ability to control them in a test situation. Another instance of a yacht being taken off course by a hijacked GPS system is another.

Even in the home, people are at risk. Devices that have video cameras, children’s monitors, and similar devices that should be safe are actually giving hackers the chance to cause havoc in the home. Smart wired homes are having their temperature settings and lights flickering on and off, as these hackers explore the possibilities that are out there. Even the latest electric power meters that are digital are allowing hackers to steal power with ease.

But these device annoyances aren’t where the heart and soul of the IoT lies. Instead, it is the possibility of what can be done with these systems. Since everything is attached through the internet, these devices have the potential to perform a third party attack on websites. If millions of devices hit a website at the same time, it can overwhelm the bandwidth and potentially take down a competitor’s website, effectively crippling them until they find a workaround solution. Corporate espionage becomes a real concern as competition realizes they can turn simple devices against their main competition and draw in their business

All this means that the virtual world has the ability to have an impact on the physical world. The solution right now is to boost security on our devices that use the IoT. With added security tools and advanced API that can detect usage that goes beyond what the system is designed to do, there is a lower risk for the world.

With terrorism one of the main concerns in the world, and growing dangers around us, we need to be smart how we use technology. That’s why when we look at the IoT that we don’t write these devices off as being nothing more than simple tools to make our lives easier, but recognize them for the potential dangers they could also possess.

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