The Internet Of Things (IoT) Isn’t New, The Threats Are!

The last two years has seen the rise of "The Internet Of Things" (IoT) and with any new hype it has people talking about it in no time. Combined with terms as "Smart" is has created a new billion dollars global business. Has it really though? 

Let's first look at what "The Internet of Things" actually means. It might sound like an army of drones empowered by the internet but it is not. 

 The essence of the IoT lays in the fact that sensor driven hardware technology is being connected to the "internet". 

  The rise of mobile internet technology (3G/4G/LTE) combined with the increased access to and demand for bandwith in general has now enabled businesses and people to directly connect to various devices and sensors to the internet.  

 With all various types of sensors now being empowered via WIFI or bandwith the so called "Internet of Things" is merely a marketing term used to create additional revenues for either brand new products or existing products tailored to modern connectivity. 

 Make no mistake, having direct access to various sensors and being able to control those can enrich our lives, however a word of caution is needed. 

 Most of the sensors being tailored for connectivity operate on pretty much very old, backdated technologies and therefore could potentially pose a thread to our security and privacy. Most of the sensors that are older than five or ten years come without security patches or manufacturers have stopped developing those patches (most notably my four years old "Smart" TV). 

 The real threat in senor enabled technology lays in the sheer volume of (personal) data various manufactures or distributors are able to collect about our lives. The secure and safeguarded storage of the latter is of crucial importance. 

 As small example; You have a SMART (That is the buzzword here) alarm system in your house. The smart element is that you can program your alarm settings and remotely (from you drive way) disarm or arm it. Since the sensor technology is able to connect via internet or mobile connectivity all your personal movements (when you are home or out) is being registered and stored somewhere. Either someone with direct access or somebody who is able access your data (via more "creative means") can determine the times your home is "armed" and when it is "unarmed". The sensor on regular intervals will transmit a small signal indicating the status of your home. 

 The average hacker or more sophisticated hacker will have no trouble hacking the signal and collecting some potentially lucrative and personal data. 

Since SMART Homes are costly and if you are considering converting your home into one or buying a ready made one, you better get some assurance from the manufacturer or supplier regarding your data privacy and overall security. 

Last year a smart fridge (yes it exists) start posting reviews on Amazon, sounds funny but it shows you what you are up against.. read more about the reviewing smart fridge here